As the temperatures continue to drop, along with all those leaves on our deciduous trees, we are pretty much left with just shades of green in our gardens to look at throughout the winter.

For those of us that experience color starvation, here are some ideas to bring the outside into our dining rooms and living spaces.

First off, I suspect you would like an explanation of what the heck is a “bud-blooming” heather. It’s a fair question so here is my answer: A bud-blooming heather is a type of Calluna (a commonly planted summer-blooming heather that is in many of our gardens).

Of all the seasons of the year, fall is probably my most favorite and the month of October is when it all starts to happen (although this year one could argue that fall actually started in September). 

The garden comes alive again in the fall and it shifts into high gear in October.

With a few possible exceptions, most of the new 2019 plants are long gone and we will have to wait until next spring to discover what the breeders have in store for us for the 2020 season.

As a retailer however, we get a sneak preview and from time to time, if the growers have a crop mature early, we actually get to bring in some of those new goodies in the fall.

The one plant in my garden that speaks fall to me is the Japanese Anemone. It is easy to grow and a reliable bloomer that is happy in partial shade or full sun, provided you don’t let it dry out.

The plant itself will reach three feet tall by September and will bloom for almost two months, starting as early as mid-August.

Ornamental grasses are an interesting class of perennials. They have some unique qualities that make them an essential part of my borders. Unfortunately, many gardeners still see them as weeds that either need to be sprayed with Roundup or trimmed with the Weed-Eater. This column will hopefully find some converts.

August can be a surprisingly busy month in the garden. There are timely chores, if attended to this month, that will improve the look and health of our plants. Here they are for your reading pleasure…

Anyone who has followed me over the years knows that one of my many mantras is “There is always room for one more plant.”

No matter how packed my garden is, on any given day I can find a little patch of bare earth that is just screaming for something to be planted in it.