You still have time to plant spring flowers! For colorful spring flowerbeds, the time to plant is fall.

Annuals and perennials that can be put in from color paks include alyssum, calendula, cineraria, columbine, coral bells, cyclamen, delphinium, English daisy, dianthus, foxglove, flowering cabbage (ornamental kale), Iceland poppy, hollyhock, nemesia, pansy, phlox, primroses, schizanthus, snapdragon, stock, and viola.

Make sure to plant them in well-prepared soil and feed often with a product high in nitrogen as well as phosphorus and potassium such as Dr. Earth Organic 6. When the rain is not adequate, water them well. Even if you are planting now, you will have a beautiful display by February that will peak in April and last until June.

If you've already planted flowerbeds with wildflowers and other cool-season annuals and perennials, they should be starting to fill in and spread out now.

Make sure to protect them from snails, bait for cutworms with Metro Bug Bait, and water well when the rains are not adequate.

If you want to have your winter-blooming plants such as Iceland poppies, pansies, primroses, and cyclamen blooming as soon as possible, you should feed them for growth and bloom.

For winter-blooming annuals, the trick is to fertilize often, because nitrogen is less active in cooler soil. Granulated fertilizer such as Gro Power can be used once every month or six weeks (make sure to water it in well); however, liquid fertilizer such as Organic Advantage Soil Builder is much more effective for cool-season flowers. Feed every two weeks.

Do not feed flowering kale for bloom; this stimulates bolting. Frequent application of a light nitrogen fertilizer such as Alaska Fish Emulsion produces the best the results.

Many Eastern transplants get nostalgic for the color of autumn leaves when the crisp fall air nips the nose. But just because we live in California doesn't mean we can't enjoy displays of seasonal tree colors.

Liquidambars come in special clones known as 'Festival,' 'Palo Alto' and 'Burgundy.' Seedlings can be any color, but this is the best time to pick one out, since it will repeat the same color every fall.

Other trees for color displays are ginkgoes, with brilliant gold leaves, and Chinese pistache, with vibrant orange to red hues. With the right choice of shade tree, you can light up the fall in your garden.