Prairie dwellers often talk wistfully and enviously of the brilliant fall colours of eastern and maritime Canada. Yet our autumn landscape can be (almost) equally beautiful, especially if you’ve planned for it. As you walk around your neighbourhood, local park, Patterson Gardens (Univ of SK) or the Forestry Farm Park in Saskatoon on these wonderful clear sunny days before the onset of winter, here are a few of the trees and shrubs that will catch your eye. Some are commonplace, others a bit out of the ordinary, but all provide evidence that eastern colour envy is misplaced – and all are perfectly hardy.
Sara Williams is the author of numerous gardening books, among them the revised Creating the Prairie Xeriscape. And with Hugh Skinner: Gardening Naturally; Trees and Shrubs for the Prairies, and Groundcovers & Vines for the Prairies.
This column is provided courtesy of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society (www.saskperennial.ca; hortscene@yahoo.com; www.facebook.com/saskperennial). Check out our Bulletin Board or Calendar for upcoming garden information sessions, workshops, tours and other events.
