We will be returning to Standard Time on October 30th. Remember to set your clocks back one hour Sunday the 30th, at 2am. Or set them early and enjoy that extra hour of sleep!

Smoke detector batteries should be changed yearly; the change to Standard Time is also a great time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Properly functioning smoke detectors save thousands of lives every year.

October is a good time to notice those plants that provide fall color year after year and perhaps add one to your garden. By purchasing now you can find the color that pleases you most. All of these plants can be put in now along the coast, and several can also be planted inland. (If you live inland, don't plant tropicals this late in the season.)

For autumn leaves, choose liquidambar for its colorful pink, red, yellow, or orange foliage. Or try maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba), which has golden leaves in the fall. (In order to avoid the sticky fruit of mature female trees, plant only named male varieties, such as Fairmont or Autumn Gold.) The Hong Kong orchid tree (Bauhinia blakeana) has striking flowers ranging from cranberry to pink. Floss silk tree (Chorisia speciosa) blooms in burgundy, bright orchid to bright pink, or white all over the top of the tree. Markhamia tree (markhamia hildebrandtii) bears golden trumpet flowers from August through October; it does best in coastal areas. Chinese flame tree (Koelreuteria henryi or K. bipinnata) is named for its salmon-colored seed pods, which follow its less significant yellow flowers.

Vines include cup-of-gold (Solandra  maxima), which grows well even on the oceanfront, and flame vine (Pyrostegia venusta). Mexican flame vine (Senecio confusus or S. angulatus) is a yellow-to-orange vine for coastal locations; it dies down in frost. It may be hard to find but can be grown from seed or cuttings. Cut it back hard after bloom.

It's not too late for rose pruning; trimming your roses back by about one-third will take stress off the root system (the water they draw up won't have to go so far). Remove any yellow/diseased leaves. Air circulation is very important so you may want to thin out the center foliage a little. When planting roses, trim back as directed above and give lots of water. Be sure to space no closer than three feet apart on center.

It is important to continue your scheduled feeding (read directions for your particular brand) but be very sure to water roses thoroughly before and continue after to prevent burning. I prefer the more gentle organic foods. You should get continual blooms until the holiday season. Wait for dormant pruning until after that so you can enjoy them.

Mulch everything if you haven't. Watch for changes in color. If your lawn turns from bright green to grayish blue, water immediately.

Find a shady spot and relax - enjoy your garden!

Fall is the time to trim back overgrown plants. Add mulch or compost before planting bulbs.

Wear sunscreen, hat and insect spray containing DEET.

 As the weather cools down we will have fewer insects to contend with, including mosquitoes! But watch out for snails and slugs!

A note on roses: One type that doesn't get much attention is the Rugosa rose. This rose resembles a wild rose, and many have beautiful hips in the fall. They don't need pruning. They don't want or need chemicals. Most will tolerate some shade and are fragrant. They are looking clean and healthy now while a lot of the older hybrid teas are suffering. Since they grow on their own root system, don't trim new shoots; they're not suckers but new growth. For a beautiful low-maintenance addition to your garden, try Rugosa roses!

It's easy to grow wildflowers. Here's how:

• Choose a spot in full sun. Spade or rototill the ground deeply, adding organic soil amendment (we recommend Gardner & Bloome Planting Mix, or Kellogg Amend) but no fertilizer. (If you plant wildflowers for three years in the same bed, sprinkle the ground with a light application of complete fertilizer before planting for the third time.)
• Smooth and level the surface with the garden rake.
• Decide on a watering system. A drip system usually works the best.
• If the area you're planting is too wide for you to reach all parts of it from the edges, either make wandering paths through it or place stepping stones here and there between the drip tubes so you can walk on the bed without compacting the soil.
• Sprinkle seeds of native wildflowers all over the bed. Sprinkle individual types in drifts, putting tall varieties at the back or in the middle and shorter varieties at the front or around the edges.
• Rake the seed lightly into the soil.
• Intersperse pea stakes throughout the bed.
• Protect the seeds and sprouts from birds: stretch bird netting over the stakes. Fasten the edges down with rocks or wire staples. (After the plants are up 4 to 5 inches take off the netting but leave the pea stakes in place to support the plants through wind and rain.)
• Sprinkle the bed with a watering pot twice a day until seeds germinate. Then start watering with a drip system or by soaking the bed when the rains are not adequate.
• After the plants are up and growing, stand or lean on your paths or stepping stones to weed and thin them — if necessary. Bait for slugs, snails and cutworms.
• Use canes pruned from climbing roses to protect the bed from being smashed by skunks or other animals in the spring.