Autumn planting?

:) Winter Pansies are always cheerful.

Sorry meant flowers for the extra splash of winter cheer.

Pansies in greenhouse starting to come into bloom now.

Scotkat, I'm not too sure what you mean - do you mean what do we plant when we remove the summer bedding and change what's in our pots etc? If so, I try to ring the changes and plan bulbs at the base ready to take over in the spring, with Cyclamen, Primulas, those wallfowers that flower all winter, Pansies, Ivies, and some grasses too. Is that what you were asking or have I misunderstood?

You are correct SH

When is winter?
Last year I had lupins in flower from end april to mid november!
I have one honeysuckle I can put the blooms around the christmas cake!
Asters flower until the first frost. So do schztolsis, crocosmia, canna, hedychium the list goes on.
Ribes laurifolium is fantastic in february and march.

The best thing I've found in gardening is NOT to buy or pay any credence to those popular gardening books which have been so obviously written by an author with a flat in London, a window box and unsoiled fingernails!

You know the ones I mean. They just roll out the same old tired cultivation advice using library photos . . . . Just like nearly every garden centre label advises upon 'plant in well-drained soil'.

Check out my huge web site and forums

I also use ornamental cabbages which I grow from seed.
One packet has lasted me 3yrs with great succes,
Lovely purple and white colours from october through winter into late spring/summer
They are a nice contrast to pansies,primulas etc. and need no maintenance.