Orchids offer bright flowers that can last six weeks or more--think about that the next time you buy a flower arrangement. For an even bigger show, group several together. The lady's slipper orchids (Paphiopedilum) shown here have both beautiful flowers and foliage. Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) are one of the most popular orchids around because of their stunning blooms. When selecting plants, choose those that have just one or two flowers open with lots of buds. Place in bright, indirect light. Avoid cold drafts and areas around heating vents. Water once a week, and let plants thoroughly drain. Moth orchids are affordable and readily available from garden shops, florists, and mass-market retailers. Prices range from about $15 for a 4-inch container to about $24 for a 6-inch container. One source for ordering gift baskets of blooming orchids is from Norman's Orchids. A tremendous selection of orchids in different sizes for both the novice and the collector are also available. Visit www.orchids.com, or call 1-888-467-2443.

Mulch
As the leaves fall, they create an ample supply of free organic mulch for the garden. Decomposed leaves enrich the soil, nourishing your plants. Rake them up, or gather them with the bagging attachment on your lawn mower. Add the chopped leaves to your flowerbeds. The extra layer of leaves will keep roots cool, retain moisture, and slow weed growth next spring.

Dividing
In the Lower and Coastal South, share your perennials now. Dig and divide clumps of phlox, daisies, irises, hostas, and daylilies. When lifted, some will fall apart easily, while others may need to be coaxed. Set divided plants back into the soil at the original growing depth, water well, and mulch. Give the extras to family and friends.

Tulip bulbs
Plant one selection en masse (at least a dozen) in flowerbeds for best show. We love 'Apricot Beauty,' 'Monte Carlo,' 'Menton,' 'Mrs. John T. Scheepers,' 'Ivory Floradale,' 'Pink Impression,' Maureen,' and 'Temple of Beauty.' In the Middle and Upper South, you can go ahead and plant your bulbs. In the Lower and Coastal South, chill your bulbs in the refrigerator six to eight weeks before planting. Do not store with fruit such as apples and pears.

Rex begonias
These houseplants will illuminate the rooms in your home. Leaf colors can be purples, pinks, greens, and silvers. They like bright light and humidity. Water when the soil is slightly dry. They are readily available at nurseries and garden centers.

FLORIDA

Fall-Blooming Perennials
Don't limit yourself to annuals this season because there are lots of perennials blooming now to brighten your days. Firespike (Odontonema strictum), shown at right, with its fiery red flower spikes, is a favorite of hummingbirds. Be sure to plant these in partial shade for best performance. Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha) will flower reliably every autumn if planted in full sun. Its long spikes of purple and white flowers also attract hummingbirds. Other plants these birds love include the orange-and-yellow tubular blooms of cigar flower (Cuphea micropetala), an easy plant that anyone can grow, and the red flowers of pineapple sage (Salvia elegans). Both thrive in the sun. Plant lion's tail (Leonitis leonurus) in a sunny spot where you can enjoy its warm orange flowers. A good choice for partial shade is Philippine violet (Barleria cristata). It will be covered with lavender flowers throughout the fall.

Entire State
Cool-weather color--For color that will last from now until spring, set out dianthus, snapdragons, pansies, violas, lobelias, nemesias, twinspurs, and sweet alyssums. Plant in full sun, and feed with a slow-release fertilizer such as Osmocote Outdoor & Indoor 19-6-12 or Dynamite All-Purpose 18-6-8 fertilizer.

Central and South Vegetables--Set out transplants of leafy vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, turnips, mustards, cabbage, or kale. (You can also sow the seeds of lettuces, turnips, and mustards.) Beets, broccoli, carrots, arugula, basil, dill, fennel, and parsley can also be planted now.
Watering--With drier days, you will need to continue to provide supplemental water for your lawn. Fortunately it's a bit cooler, so you won't need to water as often, probably only once or twice a week. Apply 1/2 to 3/4 inch of water at a time.
Shrubs--This is a great time to plant new shrubs. Make sure the hole is two to three times the width of the root ball. To ensure good drainage, the new plant should be set at the same depth it was in the container or even slightly higher in case it settles a bit.
Bright yellow flowers--The beautiful blooms of butterfly bush (Senna bicapsularis) are stunning now, resembling golden butterflies. Plant in full sun to partial shade and allow 8 to 10 feet for spread and height. Water several times a week after planting, but once established, butterfly bush is very drought tolerant.

North and Central Colorful autumn foliage--Even Floridians can enjoy the change of seasons if we select and plant the right trees. Crepe myrtle, dogwood, Florida maple, Chinese pistache, red maple, sourwood, and Shumard red oak provide good fall color. Now through winter is the time to plant. Just be sure to water the young trees well at least twice a week until established. Seeds for spring--Larkspur, bachelor's button, sweet pea, Shirley poppy, and California poppy seeds can be sown now, in well-prepared soil in full sun. Follow package directions carefully so as not to plant your seeds too deeply. Keep the planting bed moist for several weeks. Once the seedlings have emerged and produced their first set of true leaves, thin them 4 to 6 inches apart.

TEXAS

Fall-Blooming Annuals
Planting time is here for annuals such as pansies and violas. Visualize flowerbeds with elongated masses of pansies in single colors of yellow, blue, purple, orange, or white or in mixed hues. Prepare the soil by adding several inches of organic material such as composted pine bark, peat, or your own compost, and then add a fertilizer such as Osmocote Vegetable & Bedding 14-14-14, cottonseed meal, or alfalfa meal. Apply the commercial fertilizer according to label directions or the meals at the rate of 5 pounds per 100 square feet of bed area. Be sure that soil temperatures have cooled before planting pansies, and select robust transplants in 4-inch containers or larger for quick results. Contrast these prolific bloomers with cool-weather foliage plants such as ornamental kales, cabbages, or Swiss chards. Violas are smaller-flowering cousins of pansies but bloom prolifically and can make impressive displays. These plants also work great in containers.

Entire State Seeds--Save some seeds from your favorite flowers of summer. Cut fading flower heads of zinnias, sunflowers, black-eyes Susans, marigolds, cosmos, bachelor's buttons, and celosias. Allow them to dry for a few days in a shady place before separating the seeds by shaking or pulling the pods apart above a sheet of paper. Place seeds in labeled envelopes, and store them in the lower part of the refrigerator until its time to plant next year.

Panhandle
Windbreaks--Add these plantings to reduce cold damage in the garden and lower heating costs inside the home. Evergreens such as Eastern red cedar and Arizona cypress are dependable and long-lived. For quicker effects, space the plants 3 to 5 feet apart in staggered rows. Mulch with hay, coastal Bermuda grass, or similar material, and water well until established.

North, West, Central, and South
Dividing irises--Louisiana and bearded irises should be divided when existing clumps are crowded and not blooming well. Begin by digging the entire clump, and then select firm growing tips with at least several inches of the rhizome (enlarged root). Replant into prepared soil, and water well.

Central, East, and South
Vegetables--Cool-weather vegetables make a great addition to our gardens and can be planted now. Cabbage, kale, lettuce, arugula, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts are usually available as transplants. Turnips, spinach, and mustard are best when they are seeded directly into prepared soil. Be sure to thin the seedlings 3 to 4 inches apart when several weeks old. All work well in raised beds.

South
Planting trees--Small-flowering trees bring color and interest to South Texas gardens. Natives such as Texas olive (Cordia Boissieri), Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora), and Texas ebony (Pithecellobium flexicaule) add color while thriving with little or no supplemental irrigation.

"Around Your Garden" is from the November 2007 issue of Southern Living.