This is a month that perennial gardeners may choose to ignore. The bulk of our perennials have finished flowering and going dormant, but I can think of a few exceptions and I suggest you take note. There are still two Korean mums in flower, and I don't mean in a tatty, finished sense, but in a joyous "I've just arrived" sense. They are Chrysanthemum 'Mrs. Robinson' and 'Mrs. Clarkson', the former a bronze-red pompon, the latter a wonderful yellow pompon with guard petals surrounding the center. These plants are the center of activity in my garden as swarms of insects gather nectar. These two particular chrysanthemums produced their first flowers Halloween week. During the same week I saw the first flowers on a wonderful aster named "Fannys", clearly surpassing an old time favorite Aster 'Raydon's Favorite'. The daisy flowers are a pale lavender-blue and arrive on 3 to 4 foot stems. All three of these lovely perennials become dense mounds of foliage and it is not unusual to find plants that have reached 4 to 5 feet in diameter. All the better, I say, since most perennials have been cut back and cleaned up.

And finally I must add Ajania pacifica, formerly Chrysanthemum pacificum. Grown more for foliage than flowers, this spreading, ground-covering plant rarely exceeds 18 inches in height. At this time of year, small button-like flowers are produced, clusters of yellow over gray foliage with a fine silver edge. A beautiful plant without flowers, the little burst of yellow in November only adds to its charm. I would venture to say that folks growing this plant may rate it among their top five favorites.

Otherwise we rely on a few foliage perennials for November and we are grateful for dianthus, iberis, euphorbia and lavender. I prefer the French varieties of lavender for their superior foliage. The result of hybridizing Lavandula latifolia with spike lavender (sometimes referred to as lavandin), the newer crosses yield an oil that is harsher more camphourous than standard lavender oil. These hybrids will grow into large clumps, often spreading to 5 feet. My favorites for foliage are L. 'Grosso', 'Graves' and 'Fred Boutin', all looking very fresh for the month of November.

So there you have a few good reasons to enjoy late fall. The gardener may choose to ignore the January garden, but in our climate the November garden can be lovely.