As many blooming plants in the Backyard Garden are winding down this time of year, a few continue to put on a show of outstanding color.

Make sure to see the two Seven-Son Temple of Bloom small trees with their large clusters of fragrant white flowers. The blooms last for weeks before falling to the ground to reveal bright red, fan-shaped bracts that look like the plant is blooming again in a completely different color.

Also brilliant against fading foliage are the Mexican Sunflowers and small Cannas.

The “darling” of the Backyard Garden this summer is the bed of Delicious Candy Coneflowers (pictured here). This compact perennial has a long bloom season. Hot pink pedals encircle a matching cone that turns orange as the bloom matures. This plant has visual impact as a single garden specimen or in mass.

All are wonderful plants to incorporate in your own backyard garden for vivid color and to attract butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators.

Written by Martha Wiles, Park of Roses Foundation member.