I can't remember a fall when the colours have been this beautiful!  Whether walking or driving around Campbell River I have had enjoyed these colours in street trees, on our trails, the stunning view of Quadra Island with the big leaf maples (Acer macrophyllum) lit up within the deep green coniferous trees and within your private gardens.  This leads me to think, of how we never know, who will enjoy the trees and shrubs we plant.

A personal experience of this was a particularly magnificent Smoke Bush (Cotinus) on Hilchey Road which caused me pull over and snap a photo of its glory; all glowing coral deepening to pinkish-red.  I was so pleased I had my camera handy and thankful to the homeowner who planted it for the glowing feeling it passed along to me.

For many years the burning bush (Euonymus alatus) and red maples (Acer rubrum) at the Arena on Dogwood street have been enjoyed by so many of us.  Customers mention this gorgeous planting each and every fall.  I hope those who planted and care for these know who much we all appreciate their beauty.

Autumn is such a magical time in the garden.  With summer behind us the light is softening to golden hues and the shadows are getting long and a lot of plants are preparing for winter.  At the same time some plants have been waiting all spring and summer to delight us with their showiest season - Autumn.

Some plants will dazzle us with fall colours of rich burgundy, red, gold and orange and others will more delicately change to apricot, soft yellows and dusty rose.  All in my mind are beautiful but finding stunning combinations is as important as the plants themselves.  For example; I love the way the deep, dark, plum leaves of Cotinus (Smoke Bush) illuminate in the fall to salmon-pink tones.  However when Smoke Bush are combined with Pampas Grass (and maybe a little bit of a wrought iron fence or railing in behind) you have a gorgeous vignette to look upon, not only in the summer but also in the fall.  This is a little combo I've been looking for a place around my house for a while. 

Here are just a few of the plants that I think are interesting for using for fall and winter interest.  Some have interesting leaves or fall colour, some have beautiful stems and some have gorgeous berries.

Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire' (Twig Dogwood)

As this winter season blasts on and on with wind and storms and snow and yet even more snow; Shelley's quote reminds me that the "Joy of Spring" must surely be near. We are a bit spoilt, at times, on the coast when we have mild winters and spring comes early. Not so this year. Even now, in the early days of February, we cannot say how much longer winter will heft her weight around. I think this is not a year when gardeners will boast about geraniums and other non-hardy types wintering out of doors.

However, it is in a winter season such as this that I find gardeners look most forward to the tiny signs of spring approaching. Are any of the tips of their bulbs up? Are buds beginning to swell? We watch, and we wait, and then before we know it the early blooms of witch hazel (Hammemalis) amaze us with their tiny, fragrant, sort of crinkled, yet spiky flowers. Ah.some clock within nature has chimed and time has moved on from the dead of winter to foreshadow the coming of spring.

Then the next thing we know the forsythia has burst open to bathe us in it's golden splendour and it really does feel like the warmer days are coming. Many other bloomers will follow of course but these early ones, these are the ones that get us through the last that winter has to offer. These are the shrubs we love to cut to bring indoors and know that if winter is here, spring cannot be far behind.