Akebia quinata growing on black locust

I hesitate to include the slide, because Akebia can be invasive. The secret is to only have ONE plant in your garden, since it is self-sterile. Black locust is a good support for Akebia, which leafs out and blooms early in spring, then retains its green foliage late in fall. This one grew to 40' in 4 years. The red in the forground is winterberry 'Winter Red'.

Facing west

It's rare that I take the time to survey the garden. I'm usually looking at some detail, but a day like this makes it hard to concentrate on details.

Acer palmatum 'Dissectum'

I'm no expert on maples, but I have a two spectacular red cut-leaf maples on the property. When I added this green selection, I was only looking for a little balance, but I was pleasantly surprised with its fall color. The plnt is much more subtle than its cousins

Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium'

I'm too cheap to buy large plants and I hesitated to include this photo, but this little gem draws much attention throughout the growing season. I can hardly wait for it to really get some size on it.

Callicarpa americana-American beauty berry

It amazes me that so few people grow this plant. It has an eight foot spread and the fall color is brilliant, though a little short-lived.

Aesculus parviflora -Bottlebrush buckeye

The fall color is an added bonus for this plant. It is usually grown for the spikes of white flowers in June, but the emerging foliage is quite attractive, though somewhat variable.

Magnolia macrophylla Big-leaf magnolia

It's hard to tell from this photo, but these leaves are over a foot long. The size of the leaf gives it a tropical feel, but it is perfectly hardy and quick growing.

Big leaf Magnolia

The shrub in the background is variegated privet, which has not been trained. Privet can grow into a graceful small tree. The down side is that seed production can result in privet growing in places that you don't want it.

Hamamelis virginiana -Common witchhazel

This kind of show with witchhazel is rare in my garden. Bloom is usually more sparse. Even worse, the leaves are often retained until the bloom has faded. This year, the leaves cooperated and left a great show of pale yellow flowers.

Viburnum setagerum-Tea viburnum and Camellia sinensis-Small-leaf tea

Tea viburnum is my favorite for berries. When I planted them in such close proximity, it didn't occur to me that both were used for tea.

Viburnum dilatatum-Linden viburnum

Berry set with this species is not consistent for me, I have two plants in different parts of the garden and there is very little diffence in their performance. Obviously, the berry is not the only reason to grow it.

Viburnum plicatum v. tomentosum 'Mariesii' with

Chionanthus retusus

Double-file viburnum foliage darkens to a reddish-black in contrast with the yellow foliage of the Chinese fringe tree

Cersis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'

This cultivar is most notable for its red foliage, but in my garden, it also holds its leaves with good yellow color long after my other C. canadensis has totally defoliated. By comparison, C. racemosa (not pictured) is still totally green.