Wait for it...

Spring is a wonderful time of year for gardeners. Greenhouses are filled with annuals and hanging baskets, azaleas and rhododendrons are covered in cheerful, vivid color, and shrubs and trees put out fresh growth or open their new leaves. Certainly, spring is a magical season.

Autumn, however, is also a beautiful time of year and the best time to experience the true colors of many plants. Take the Burning Bush for example. During spring and summer, this shrub has a humble, even homely appearance. Its rough, woody stems hold matte green leaves that give gardeners little to be excited about. In fact, at Vander Giessen's, the Burning Bush is relegated to the back of the nursery display yard--customers simply don't have any interest in the plant. But come autumn, the Burning Bush quickly gains popularity. With shorter days and colder temperatures, this plant undergoes a dramatic transformation, its leaves changing from dull green to an array of deep crimsons and fiery reds. Suddenly, customers take a keen liking to the Burning Bush, and it becomes the star of the show.

And it's not alone. Many other plants put on their best display this time of year. While perennials are withering and other shrubs are looking tired from a long growing season, some shrubs and trees are just putting out their best color. Lime Glow Barberry completes its transformation from lime green to deep salmon in fall. Grasses of all types open their plumes or seed heads. And who can forget the beautiful range of colors found in maples? Full size maples come in beautiful colors, but the smaller Japanese Maples have a wide array of color, too.

So, if you haven't been to your local nursery in a while, stop by today and check out the beautiful fall color. The season doesn't last long, so don't wait, or you might miss the show!