In these last few days before the marathon of holiday frenzy begins, get into the Zen of gardening — if only visually — with the universally adored Japanese maple (Acer palmatum).
"Right now, Japanese maples are exploding into a gorgeous array of fall colors," says landscape architect Ami Saunders. "I love the tremendous variety afforded by the many cultivars of Japanese maples, in terms of year-round seasonal color, leaf texture, height, habit and form." With hundreds of cultivars available, you can select from virtually any color, form, size, or climate preference to suit your garden.
Fall is a great time to shop for them, as you can preview their color at the nursery. It's also a good time to get them in the ground, so their roots can get established before the spring growing season.