A cool-season flower that can be set out in early spring, sweet alyssum fades in the summer heat, but its clusters of tiny white, pink, or purple blooms will likely cover your garden again in the fall when temperatures stabilize.

One of the most famous and best autumn-flowering perennials is the aster (or Michaelmas daisy, if you prefer), which blooms right through October – so long as you keep it well watered during dry spells and deadhead regularly to prolong flowering.

Radishes are year-round garden favorites since they can be harvested as soon as 30 days after their seeds are planted, no matter which season you choose to plant them. Yet you may not be aware of the enormous selection of radish varieties that are readily available.

Catmint is the ideal low-maintenance perennial for any garden setting. Available in heights ranging from 8 inches to 3 feet tall, the silvery-green foliage has a minty-spicy scent that deer and rabbits tend to leave alone. Spikes of pink or purple flowers appear for weeks in mid to late summer.

Fall flowers are a valuable source of nectar and pollen for butterflies and other beneficial insects at a time when food sources are scarce.