Fall has fully arrived here in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Cool misty mornings melt into warm afternoons, and the first rain of the season makes this my favorite planting time of the year.
This is also when I get excited about all the favorite flowers I pressed over the previous spring and the time I decide what to plant for the next year's blooms.
This is a great time to sow cool-hardy annuals and bulbs into the garden where they'll spend the winter quietly building roots. As the days begin to lengthen in spring, they'll be ready to take off.
Below is everything going into the garden this fall with a note on why each one is a favorite in my press.
A quick note on timing: everything here is written for our mild-winter coastal California climate. If your winters are colder, check your local frost dates before you plant.
Cool-Season Hardy Annuals
Hardy annuals make for amazing spring blooms for inside your home and for the press. Some flowers actually need a bit of chill (cold stratification) to sprout. As they winter over, they develop strong root systems and will bring on a rainbow of color come spring.
Sow these directly in the garden:
- Sweet peas. Soak the seeds overnight before sowing, and give them a trellis to climb. Their ruffled petals press thin and delicate, like tissue paper.
- Borage. Easy, bee-friendly, and happy to reseed itself year after year. Their little star-shaped flowers press flat, and they make for the most interesting shapes in the press.
- Larkspur. It needs cold soil to germinate, which makes fall the perfect time to sow. Larkspur holds its color in the press better than almost anything else.
- Bachelor's buttons. Tough, cheerful, and generous with blooms. Press whole flowers or single petals for jewel tones of blue, pink, and deep plum.
- Nigella (love-in-a-mist). Sow Nigella it right where you want it, since it doesn't like to be moved. Nigella also self-sows readily, and their delicate, lacy foliage is a favorite in our press.
- Orlaya and Ammi. These lacy white flower heads press flat as a whole, like little snowflakes.
- Calendula. Sunny orange and yellow petals that brighten any pressed piece. Deconstruct these orange beauties and place their petals in the press for a pop of orange in your artwork.
Plant these as seedlings:
- Violas and pansies. In our mild winters, they bloom straight through to spring. They're one of the easiest flowers to press and a great place for beginners to start.
- Snapdragons. Plant them now for tall spring spikes. Press single blossoms on their side to keep their sweet little "dragon mouth" shape.
- Iceland poppies. Their crinkled petals press as thin as silk. Pick them just as the buds crack open.
Bulbs and Corms
Fall is bulb season. Most of these go in the ground from October through November, once the soil starts to cool. Up here in the mountains, gophers love bulbs as much as we do, so I plant the tastiest ones in wire baskets.
- Ranunculus. Soak the corms for 3 to 4 hours so they plump up, then plant them, claws down, about 2 inches deep. The blooms are too full to press whole, but their petals press into paper-thin layers of color.
- Anemones. Soak these for 3 to 4 hours too, then plant about 2 inches deep. If you can't tell which end is up, plant them on their side. Their open, flat faces and dark, inky centers press beautifully whole.
- Daffodils. Deer and gophers leave them alone, which makes them a mountain garden favorite. Plant them about 6 inches deep. Small-cupped and miniature varieties press best, and my favorite cultivarto press is Narcisuss Double Flowering 'Replete.'
- Freesias. These love our California climate and come back year after year. Press single blossoms and enjoy the fragrance while you work.
Citrus Trees for Foliage
Citrus might not be the first thing you picture in a flower garden, but I love it for its glossy evergreen leaves. A few cut branches give arrangements and wreaths a fresh green base all winter long. And the blossoms smell like heaven.
A quick timing note: citrus trees are frost-tender, so spring, after the last frost, is the safest time to plant here in the mountains. If you'd like to plant now, choose your warmest, most sheltered spot, like a south-facing wall, and be ready to cover young trees on cold nights. Dwarf trees in pots are another great option, since you can move them under cover when frost is in the forecast. Meyer lemons and kumquats are two of the more cold-tolerant choices.
For pressing, pick small, young leaves. Mature citrus leaves are thick and waxy, so I save those for fresh arrangements.
Roses: Plant Now, Prune in Winter
Fall is a wonderful time to plant potted roses. The air is cool, the soil is still warm, and winter rains help new roots settle in before spring. Bare-root roses show up at nurseries in winter, so plan to plant those in January or February.
When it comes to pruning, I recommend that you wait. Cutting roses back hard now can push out tender new growth that frost will damage. Instead, I save the big prune for January, or just around spring when the plants are ready to wake up.
Here's what I do with my roses this time of year:
- Stop deadheading, so the plants form hips and start slowing down for winter.
- Snip out any dead or diseased canes.
- Rake up fallen leaves to help prevent black spot next season.
- Mark my calendar for the January prune.
And while the last roses are still blooming, I press every petal I can. Small spray roses press beautifully whole, and rose hips make a lovely addition to winter wreaths.
From the Garden to the Press
Whatever you plant this fall, your spring self will thank you. There's something so hopeful about tucking a bulb into cold soil and trusting it to bloom.
Now I'd love to hear from you. What are you planting this season?
And which flowers are you most curious about pressing? Leave a comment below and let me know. If I can grow it, I will.
If not, I'll find out which of our farm partners are growing your favorites so I can bring them to class next season.
Speaking of class, I'd love to press and create with you in person. Make sure to check out our upcoming classes on our event page for our next creative gathering.
And if you're dreaming up a private event for your next celebration, you can always contact me at hello@orchidandpine.com with your event details. Let's grow, press, and create together!
With love,
Charina