Recently there was an article in a gardening magazine from Great Britain that observed the various ways perennials died down. Their life is not coming to an end really, they're going to sleep, and some do it nicely. How nicely they retreat in England is different than here in the Mid-Atlantic where summer drought and heat push them to the limit, but still there are a few, they oblige and it pays to take notes.

November is a month that gardeners generally use to clean up the garden. October is often too mild, lots of perennials still look good. The determining factors for removing old foliage are three; the first freeze, how tired a plant appears or how much new growth is evident. Some perennials are refreshed by cool nights and a little rain. A year to year practice of observing will reveal a few perennials that are outstanding November plants. Colors change tremendously as fall turns to winter. Tans, yellows and reds overpower green. One remarkable plant is Solomon's Seal or Polygonatum odoratum. The foliage goes from soft, lime green to yellow and finally tan. In the tan phase the stems topple, easy clean-up. This is a perennial that lives and dies well, no whimpering from drought and a tidy exit. Best planted in shade or partial shade, the underground rhizomes spread and eventually the three foot stems form a tall groundcover. Slow to establish, patience will reward the gardener.

Many ornamental grasses age gracefully. Green leaves become tan in various shades. Their foliage can be left all winter, the bleaching process sees them go from tan to blonde. There are candidates for sun or shade. Popular for sun is Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light'. The arching foliage reaches four to five feet with a plume that rises another foot. The entire clump is sturdy enough to withstand snows that topple others, even fully dormant this grass puts on a show. For the shade gardener consider Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola', a bright yellow leafed grass that lights up the woodland in summer and turns tan for winter. Commonly known as Japanese Forest Grass, the clumps are extremely slow to mature and the plume is secondary to the foliage. Only eighteen inches tall, it's beautiful enough for containers where it arches over the edge.

If day lily foliage was cut back in summer, the replacement leaves can be yellow in fall, actually getting brighter as November passes. This was definitely not my first year to take note of their waning leaves, not the best of years considering the drought, but worthy. The same can be said for hosta foliage, another member of the lily family. Do not cut the foliage back mid-summer, simply observe which varieties color up in November. Some do an exceptional job. It is said that in Japan, where the hosta grow with grasses in fields, the yellow from the foliage will light up an entire hillside. Much like an aspen and fir forest might color the top of a mountain in Maine or Utah in fall.

The best native perennial for foliage in fall is amsonia. If you have not discovered this plant, take note. Hardly any perennials have the stamina of amsonia, another hero that triumphs over garden evils. No signs of drought stress, nary an insect that feeds on it, and fall foliage that gets better and better. There are a handful of amsonia species available at local nurseries. Breeding advancements have improved on flower color, a bluer blue can be found in Amsonia 'Blue Ice'. Plant in full to partial sun and watch as surrounding perennials fade away, leaving this gorgeous yellow leafed specimen to wile away the days of November. Some others that are worth seeking are Amsonia hubrichtii and A. tabernaemontana. Taller than A. 'Blue Ice' , growing three to four feet tall, they sway in breezes and will eventually form clumps that can be five feet across.

Lastly, but certainly not the last, I would like to point out Iris tectorum or Japanese Roof Iris. The foliage is broad and arches over, only twenty inches tall. It tries desperately to be evergreen but finally gives in to tan. A glorious perennial that holds its own in summer, despite even this years horrific drought. Partial sun, like a high shade, is a good spot to plant it. The flowers of spring are either blue or white and the shade gardener prefers the white flowering form. Easily said, not so easily found. In my nursery days I grew it from seed and two years was all that was required for Iris tectorum to reach flowering size. Most plants are produced by root division and it seems that demand is outranking supply.

These beautiful colors from late fall leaves suit the month of November with its gloomy days. Seed pods on woody plants like hollies and sumac contribute their part, aided by the leggings of superior perennials that go to sleep nicely.