The leaves from my maple tree are falling, covering the front walk and making a thick carpet the kids love to drag their feet in, like miniature snow plows pushing crimson and yellow leaves into piles. The growing season is winding down.

There are many plants that excite with textures and colors that are typical of a fall garden. My favoritew are ornamental grasses; they are dramatic with their feathery tops softy a glimmer with effulgent morning light swaying in the breeze.

Their fine grasslike texture adds depth and structure to the fall garden. Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’ and ‘Morning Light’ are two of the most popular tall ornamental grasses used in this area, and do extremely well in my garden. They require full sun and need to be cut down to eight inches in the spring a truly low maintenance plant.

Anemone x hybrida ‘Whirlwind’ is very floriferous, with double white flowers that stand atop four-foot stems. It is quite an eye catcher for the fall garden. ‘September Charm’ is another fall anemone that blooms single rose-pink flowers that are darker on the outside than the inside. Anemones like well drained soil and partial shade and may need to be supported with the taller varieties.

Aster novae-angliae ‘Harrington’s Pink’ is a New England Aster that grows three feet tall and has bright salmon-pink flowers that bloom in September through October. In the summer months, it may resemble a weed, as brother-in-law once observed, but its fall flowering attributes makes up for its summertime appearance. Asters like to grow in full sun with well-drained soil, and can be divided every three years to maintain their vigor.

A plant that starts to bloom in late May and is still blooming in October is Spirea japonica ‘Neon Flash.’ It is a shrub that will grow three feet tall with deep red flowers. It has dark green leaves thoughout the growing season, and will fit into a perennial border nicely. I cut it back each spring along with the grasses. Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia has Spirea thunbergii ‘Ogon,’ which has chartreuse, finely textured leaves that turn colors of orange, red, pink or salmon in fall.

Lagerstroemia indica ‘Sioux,’ or crape myrtle, is a small tree, which I have trained as a multi-stemmed form. When I planted my crape myrtle nine years ago, I was constantly having people stop to ask me what kind of plant was blooming in September with pink flowers. Now I see them throughout Mercer County.

Crape myrtle can be marginally hardy in central and northern New Jersey, so you need to pick one that is rated for this area.

Crape myrtles bark exfoliates in shades of cinnamon brown for a nice contrast with winter snow; the leaves are glossy green in spring and summer, turning orange red in late fall. The brilliant pink flowers in September are the coup de grace.

Craig Dupée is a garden-design consultant. He resides in Ewing with his wife and children. Reach him by e-mail at hort1014u@aol.com.