You'll likely start ogling the assortment of fall mums that your local nursery has been feeding and grooming all summer. You may have included late-season bloomers amongst your perennials. If so, you can look forward to the appearance of asters, goldenrod, and sedums.

Although many perennials provide flowers in that period between the burst of summer blossoms and the fall leaf display, you can also find colour and interest in other forms. You first need to train your eye to look for interest beyond bright flower petals.

For late season interest, it's hard to beat ornamental grasses. Their beautifully graceful leaves provide drama for the eyes and ears as they wave and dance in the wind. Grasses come in all sizes, from less than a foot high to upwards of seven feet. Leaf colours range from various shades of green to silvery blue to golden, many with vertical or even horizontal variegation. And if all those benefits haven't sold you yet - they also flower. The seed heads from the flowers provide interest throughout the winter.

Many of the shrubs that delighted you with flowers in the spring produce colourful berries in the summer. Viburnum berries range from red to blue or black. A fairly recent introduction called 'Cardinal Candy' promises bright bunches of glossy scarlet red berries. If you've given up on viburnums because of leaf damage by viburnum beetles, consider some of the leather leaf varieties.

There are many elders with interesting leaf shape and colour, that also produce berries. Rugosa roses develop large red fruits called hips, which persist through the winter. Even the euonymus, as well as cotoneaster, pyracantha, holly, and Oregon grape holly are berry producers.

Trees such as the Pagoda and Kousa dogwoods, and the Mountain Ash have oodles of showy berries.

Seed heads also add interest in the garden, such as the rudbeckia and Echinacea, the oriental poppy, and sumac. Since many types of berries and seeds attract birds, you will add another dimension of interest to your garden.

So rather than despair over the waning flowers in your late summer garden, look for additional ways to add colour and excitement, and turn that 'half empty' garden to one overflowing with interest.

Kathy Steel is the Publicity Chair for the Flamborough Horticultural Society, which meets on the third Wednesday of the month. For more information on the Society, e-mail kbrunsch@cogeco.ca or call 905-659-2132.