Ah, September, finally! I hope it brings cooler days and more time for me to spend in my garden. September is a great month for gardeners, with plenty to do without the frantic pace of spring and early summer.
    There is still produce to harvest and enjoy from our gardens, and late blooming flowers to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Russian Sage and Blanket Flowers (Gaillardia species) are still in bloom, Autumn Joy Sedums are starting to turn their wonderful pinkish-salmon color, and the ornamental grasses are pluming. And, of course, the mums are showing up in stores and garden centers. Can fall be far behind?
    This is a great time to plant trees and shrubs, and you can find some good bargains. I love fall color and if you don’t have any in your yard, consider adding a European Compact Cranberry bush (Viburnum opulus ‘Compactum’), a really nice, green shrub with white spring flowers and great, red fall color. There are several varieties of Viburnums. If you can’t find this exact variety, ask if the garden center has others with fall color.
    Service Berries (Amelanchier species), which are available as small trees or large shrubs with multiple stems, also provide great fall color plus small berries that the birds will love in spring.
    Another small ornamental tree with great seasonal color is the Tatarian Maple ‘Hot Wings’ (Acer tataricum ‘Hot Wings’), which form red samaras (winged seeds) in late spring, giving the tree red highlights all summer. These get to be 15-20-inches tall. Brighton’s City Forester, Kyle Sylvester, highly recommends this tree in our area. Check out the end-of-season sales at your local nursery for trees and shrubs with fall color, spring flowers, summer shade, or maybe some of each. 
    If you want to get out of your garden and enjoy the bounty of September in other ways, try visiting our many local farm stands for an abundance of late summer produce for immediate feasting or canning or freezing for the winter. You can get great information about preserving the fruits and vegetables of summer from the CSU Extension,  www.ext.colostate.edu/index.html. Click on Online Publications and scroll down to Nutrition, Health and Food Safety.
    There’s always something happening at Berry Patch Farms, www.berrypatchfarms.com, 303-659-5050. Ask to be added to their weekly e-mail update for the latest on produce availability and what’s ripe for pickin’. Check out the Fall Harvest Festival at Miller Farms in Platteville: http://www.millerfarms.net/. There is really a lot to enjoy about September.