Autumn with its show of colors, pleasant days and football crisp nights signals the end of the gardening season for many people. In actuality, it is one of the best times of year for planting--especially trees and shrubs. My family and I live in a glorious old home with majestic sugar maples, bur oaks and black walnuts; some that reach four stories high and provide wonderful shade and privacy from May to October. The fall color on our hilltop is spectacular, but when the leaves have fallen, everything looks and feels a bit too solemn. My goal is to establish a three tiered landscape for our home. The grand ladies of the Montgomery family, owners of our home from 1850 to 1992, have taken care of most of the loftiest layer. The trees they planted provided the foundation. Now it is my turn to complete the picture.

Color, form and texture are three key attributes that I look for in developing the overall design. The area that I am currently concentrating on is the middle layer or understory. Many ornamental trees grow well in shade or can stand alone as small specimen trees. My favorite is the serviceberry Amelanchier arborea. In the days of the circuit rider, the pioneers would expect the minister to begin holding Sunday services again when the serviceberry bloomed. The serviceberry reaches 12-20 feet high and grows naturally in wet areas, but will tolerate drier conditions. White flowers in mid-spring are followed in early summer by small, blue edible berries (if the birds don't beat you to them). Fall foliage is in soft shades of red, orange and yellow. The tree has a light, airy multi-stemmed appearance.

Another flowering tree that heralds spring is the dogwood. While Cornus florida is a showier tree, and the one most people think of when referring to dogwoods, it is not the best species for our area. It requires a well-drained, evenly moist and partially shaded area to thrive. Having both species in my yard, I can attest to the sturdiness of Cornus kousa. I planted Cornus Celestial three years ago and have been pleased with it. The creamy white flowers are more elongated in shape and bloom several weeks later than my Cornus florida 'Cherokee Chief', which is a real benefit if we have a cold, wet spring. The Cornus kousa is also less susceptible to fungus and is more drought-tolerant. Both varieties have pretty, red leaves and berries in the fall.

Despite its delicate appearance, the Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis, is a small, hardy tree that signals spring with exquisite clusters of deep rosy pink flowers. The vivid blooms give way to purple heart-shaped leaves that turn blue-green in summer and soft yellow in the fall. Dark brown seedpods form in late summer and cling to the tree long after the leaves have fallen. The redbud has a long taproot making it somewhat difficult to transplant, but once established it will grow in almost any location providing many years of pleasure. In contrast to the familiar pink-flowered redbud, 'Alba' offers pretty white blossoms.

A visit to my sister's home in Ohio has me coveting her Magnolia virginiana, Sweetbay Magnolia. The plant can be either a single stemmed tree or a multi-stemmed shrub that grows 10-20 feet high and prefers a moist location. No matter what shape, it has dark green glossy leaves and silvery gray bark. Sweetbay Magnolia is aptly named and best enjoyed close-up when the creamy lemon-scented flowers are in bloom. Unlike other magnolias whose blooms may be diminished with a late frost, the Sweetbay Magnolia puts on its show in May and June and is a reliable performer year after year.

Take advantage of the early days of fall to add flowering trees to your landscape. They will reward you with many seasons of joy.

Heather Stoa, a Master Gardener and executive director of Junior Achievement, is a regular contributor to the magazine. She can be reached by email at stoa@decaturmagazine.com or by calling 217-423-0422.

Sources:

Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs
An Illustrated Encyclopedia
Michael A. Dirr, Timber Press 1997

Burpee Flowering Gardens
Flowering Shrubs, Cutting Gardens, Ornamental Trees
Smithmark Publishers, 1997