I had a similar question myself. I just took some hydrangea cuttings, and am hoping they make it. I heard (on this forum?) that the Seattle Arboretum has a good book on "Cuttings Through the Year." I've been meaning to go pick up a copy.

Here's the info from their website:
The Arboretum Foundation's popular how-to propagation booklet, "Cuttings Through the Year," was published in a new edition in late 2003. It is available in the Arboretum Shop for just $4.95 per copy ($4.45 for members). It is also available by phone or mail order for $7.00 each or $13.50 for two, including sales tax and handling (inquire about group sales). To order, call 206-325-4510, or send check (payable to Arboretum Foundation) to:

Here is a link that might be useful: arboretum foundation gift shop

The time of year for taking semi-hardwood cuttings of many kinds of woody plants has begun. Certain things will root better, or with less difficulty keeping them moist, later in the fall. But for most anything that can be rooted, now through Oct. is the time. I have just started a bunch of manzanita, Ceanothus, and other miscallaneous cuttings. I hope I can get most of my cuttings finished by the end of October this year.

Lots and lots of rose cuttings! Many different ones. I have already rooted ones, and ones that I just did.

I brought back some native rose cuttings from Lake Tahoe. I know that's Alpine elevation, but there were a lot of the same wildflowers there that we have. I thought I'd give it a try. I remember that they are a grape colored once-bloomer that has a kind of small rugosa foliage. I got them from an old estate on the Lake.

I've already rooted some plants that got accidentally broken off in the garden, a Sarcoccoa ruscifolia and a mini rose. To my surprise they took OK. I dipped them in a rooting hormone and stuck them in peat, perlite and potting soil, and misted them some but didn't have them covered with plastic.

I pruned a couple of shrubs and stuck the prunings into an area of the garden that is shaded and gets watered well. Checked today and they are growing! It seems too easy.

Sea Jen, many thanks for the link to the book! I think that will be very helpful.

Thanks to everybody else for the ideas! Ian, I've got a ceanothus here that I love -- hadn't thought of that one but will do cuttings now.

Is everyone recommending "partial shade" for the cuttings to root?

I just did some Dawn Redwood cuttings. "Gold Rush'. I'd like a forest of them.

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Ceanothus, in my experience, are pretty easy anytime from June to December (except for a few difficult species).

I tried Metasequoia (regular green one) a few years ago from cuttings and didn't have luck. Maybe I will try again. I have to wonder if there is a reason all the Gold Rush TM (actually 'Ogon') plants one sees in nurseries are grafted. Still it has to be worth a try!