That's because of my hobby. It's not gardening, it's playing music. Right now it's in the orchestra for a local production of the musical "Crazy for You" (there are still tickets, if you want to see it!). Yup, music is my "other" life, and I'm always so grateful to enjoy a hobby that is creative and a cooperative effort.

Just in case your busy life or miserable weather is also keeping you from doing a thorough garden cleanup, don't despair! Take a look at our How-to article "Preparing the Perennial Garden for Winter" and you'll realize not a whole lot really HAS to be done. That's another reason why perennials are so great: so far as winter is concerned, they mostly DO take care of themselves. I'm Crazy for 'em!

Pictured above is Leucanthemum 'Crazy Daisy', to continue the crazy theme!

WINNER: Donna — Toronto, Ontario
"I love the fall, because this is the time of year when the weather is cooler, there's more rainfall, and there are great bargains to be found at the nurseries! At this time of year I can see which plants in my garden exhibited a less-than-stellar performance throughout the summer, which plants sulked or succumbed to the summer heat, or which emerged victorious and vigorous!
It feels great to divide my favourite perennials, replanting them throughout my garden, and enjoying sharing them with friends. I can fill in the gaps left by plants that didn't make it, and my guilty confession is that I love the excuse to make yet another trip to the nursery to absorb and revel in the sights and smells of so many as yet untried specimens, and fill my shopping cart with those coveted treasures!
This fall's warm weather in Toronto has happily extended my gardening and planting season, so I'm still putting in new plants. I am truly enjoying fall in my garden!"

WINNER: Linda — Mississauga, Ontario
"I actually prefer to plant perennials in fall, the cool weather enables them to thrive. In spring, often it gets very hot and they can dry out faster. In spring I am also very busy planting my veggies and cleaning up the yard, while in fall I can see what needs to be pulled out of the perennial garden, what is overcrowded or has overrun. I have already started to move or split many, and as long as I water every other day I have not lost one. I am a lazy gardener, if the earth at the spot that I am planting is nice and workable, I do not do any soil amendment. I always have a bag of organic triple mix [a sand, peat, compost blend] to add to the hole if needed. I know what plants work in my yard, but this is the perfect time of year to purchase new untried perennials on sale. Then, if it isn't compatible and dies, I don't feel so bad about losing it."

Some gardeners dig up the plants, pot them and haul them indoors. Just be on guard for whitefly, spider mites and other insect pests that would enjoy an indoor winter vacation. Spraying a couple of times with insecticidal soap (a week apart) before you bring the plants indoors will help keep populations of insects to a more manageable level. Digging and potting is a lot of work, while taking cuttings in a hurry when frost threatens is much quicker. Pictured above is a Rex Begonia selection called 'Fireworks', which is easily wintered in a north or east-facing window.

Need some advice on how to take cuttings or overwinter tender perennials? Here are some helpful links:

• Overwintering Geraniums: Iowa State University
• Growing Coleus: The Garden Helper
• Storing Tender Bulbs: University of Minnesota Extension
• Overwintering Tender Plants: Gardener's Supply Company
• The Passion Flower: University of Saskatchewan GardenLine
• Propagation by Cuttings, Layering and Division: Virginia Cooperative Extension
• Rosemary Outdoors and In: Fine Gardening Magazine

QUESTION: I bought a hardy Hibiscus back in the summer, and it had amazing huge blooms on it until the end of September. What do I need to do so it survives the winter, and should I cut it back now?" Joyce — Grand Rapids, Michigan

ANSWER: The various types of perennial Hibiscus are amazingly hardy, once established, most of them surviving Zone 4 or 5 winters. We usually recommend a good thick mulch for the first winter, such as a wheel-barrow load or two of leaves, heaped right over the crown of the plant. Be sure to wait and do this AFTER the ground has frozen, in late fall. The idea is to keep the soil frozen to prevent alternate freezing and thawing and possible heaving of the plant from the ground during the winter.

Hibiscus are extremely late to emerge in the spring, in some regions showing no signs of growth until into June. The new shoots come right from the ground, and the stems from the previous year die back and should be cut down in mid spring or so. They CAN be cut back in late fall, but I find the dead stems are a handy marker to prevent accidentally digging around. With late-emerging perennials it's all too easy to forget in the spring that they are even there.

Club Members will be receiving the third issue of The New Perennial Insider in a week or so.

Our best-selling book, the Perennial Gardening Guide (4th edition, March 2003) is a handy reference used by gardeners across North America — written by John Valleau, horticulturist for Heritage Perennials®. Available at your local Heritage Perennials® Dealer.