It’s mid-November and fall color is peaking. In my own garden the stars of the day are the coralbark maple, Acer palmatum ‘Sangu Kaku’ and Arkansas bluestar, Amsonia hubrichtii, both golden beacons that sparkle even on rainy days. There are many plants that put on a show in fall and winter, and in Georgia fall is a good time to add plants to your garden.

For some of us gardening in pots or containers is a necessity. If you live in an apartment or condo with only a balcony, you are probably delighted to be able to grow ornamentals, vegetables or both in pots. Or, maybe you’re like me and you can’t resist trying the latest and greatest plant you fell in love with at the nursery but don’t really have a spot for in your garden.

It’s mid-October and color in my garden comes in shades of peachy apricot, lavender and rose from Rosa ‘Perle d’Or,’ single apricot chrysanthemums, lavender asters and the faded flower heads of Hydrangea paniculata ‘Tardiva.’ Still to come is the show that Amsonia hubrichtii puts on when its mass of willowy foliage turns brilliant yellow and the Japanese maple Acer palmatum ‘Sangu Kaku’ whose leaves turn yellow before they drop off to reveal red stems and a red trunk.

I still remember some years back when I got the call from my daughter’s preschool letting me know that she had eaten a holly berry. As a horticulturist I know that Ilex fruits are poisonous but unfortunately the teacher in the outdoor classroom that day had been talking about edible fruits and did not emphasize those that are poisonous.

One of the many advantages of having your own garden is that you don’t have to consult with a committee before you make any changes, move any plants or decide to rip out something that no longer pleases you. In my case I have decided that the large variegated Fatsia ‘Spiderwort’ with its green leaves that look as though they have been dusted with white paint does not enhance my garden.

Tips on how to design a garden in an oddly-shaped space.

As summer begins to wind down I find myself thinking of plants for fall and winter. Ornamental grasses appeal to me for their texture, form and long lasting beauty. They add motion to the garden and are effective as accents, groundcovers, specimens or in masses.

It’s always exciting to discover new plants or improved selections of familiar favorites.

My brother (he lives in Washington, D.C.) called a few days ago to thank me for the ‘Casa Blanca’ lilies I had given him and his wife for their garden last year. He said he enjoys a whiff of their perfume every time he walks in or out of the house. (They planted them in a mixed border next to the steps that lead to their front door.

Plants that flower and thrive during the hottest days of summer and continue to bloom until frost are always worth knowing and growing. Such is the case with salvias or sages. These versatile members of the mint family offer the gardener a wealth of choices with flowers of every color from white to pink, blue, red, yellow, orange and all the shades between.

So you planted trees this spring. Those trees' first years in the ground are important to their future strength and beauty.

What a difference rain makes. Everywhere I look this spring in and around Atlanta gardens are lush. I can almost hear the plants shouting their thanks to Mother Nature. While my roses and perennials have been prolific, the weeds are also keeping pace.

Recently while walking in my neighborhood I noticed a colorful combination planted along the edge of a garden bordering the sidewalk that grabbed my attention. While the big blue mophead hydrangeas were not unusual the chartreuse foliage that surrounded them was a surprise. Masses of gold and green variegated sweet flag, Acorus 'Ogon,' golden yellow hostas and a selection of coralbells with chartreuse foliage made for a dynamic scene. But what added the real zing to this grouping were bright orange impatiens dotted throughout. There is nothing quiet about this shade garden which got me thinking about other plants that brighten the shade with their foliage or flowers or both. It's worth mentioning here that all blooming plants need at least a minimum of sun for good flower production. If you have dappled shade or a garden that is in shade for 1/2 the day, there is no reason that it can't be colorful too.

Walking in early May through masses of Ox-eye daisies and poppies just beginning to bloom, it's hard to believe that just a few years ago this same area was covered with kudzu and mulberries. For artist Cooper Sanchez and his wife Michelle, transforming their back yard in Clarkston, Georgia into a meadow is a labor of love. Creating a meadow garden was a vision they had early on.