The shock of bicolor Cochicum 'Zephyr' is fabulous among the browning leaves of autumn. This one from the great Odyssey Bulbs.

I know one should sever the seed heads from all peonies, but I leave some on the oldest branches of my tree peonies because they are so beautiful and black

Callicarpa Dichotoma 'Winterthur' indispensable and irresistible September bloomer PLUS great for the birds

Clockwise from top left: Petasites, snowball pruned dwarf hinoki cypress, and beloved black-stemmed maidenhair fern, I love the geometry of these circular shapes and the rhythm they impart

The huge hand-like leaves of this Japanese maple are like no others – and its graceful character cannot be overstated - it is fabulous. The WOW autumn color follows in another photo.

First seen by me at Barnsley House in the Cotswolds, I had to track down this dogwood that grows in tiers. Found it at ForestFarm of course. It has grown quickly and elegantly. The leaves become whiter as the summer progresses.

This is the fabulous fall coloring that I mentioned already ...looks particularly good around the buddha head

The surprise of the upright flowers in September are thrilling, but it's the marbled leaves that then develop and stay through the winter – even a bitter one — that make this plant worth cultivating (not so easy).

Just one of the amazing Japanese maples whose leaves turn bright red for autumn. Another is Sango Kaku ---its green leaves turn yellow in autumn, but once the branches are bare the bark turns a stupefying bright red that looks especially gorgeous when it snows. (Snow pic coming up)