Lots of us like to garden from the first hint of spring until the ground starts to stiffen in the early winter. Even better, with a little planning we enjoy the garden almost year round.

Every landscape, to be successful in my opinion, incorporates trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and spring bulbs. My goal in the garden and in these words is to offer a few ideas to extend the enjoyment season.

I'm tempted to say trees are trees and quit. However, they come in all sizes and some are evergreen and some drop their leaves. Large trees, if they are not evergreen, should offer seasonal shade and fall color. If you, like me, enjoy the birds in the winter, the dense shelter of evergreens will bring more visitors.

We have more room to experiment with the smaller trees either as specimens or as part of the under-story. As with the flowering shrubs, look for interesting bark, fall color and possibly berries. Some berries will last most of the winter. Others will fuel birds as they head south and are quickly gone.

Shrubs and small trees add architecture to the winter garden that will usually resist the worst that Mother Nature can dish out. Mixing winter sunlight with dewdrops, frost crystals, ice or snow on our barren shrubs can rival the best summer shows.

Perennials, as they die back ahead of winter, offer an array of textures and colors. Many have interesting seedheads that will add beauty to the garden until we get several crushing snowfalls. The birds will love it if you leave the seedheads as their snack.

Besides, it is my strong belief that your plants will be happiest if you let the tops die naturally and leave them undisturbed until late winter or early spring.

As a group, the ornamental grasses are one of the highlights of the fall and early winter garden. Occasionally their plumes last all winter, but usually they begin to bow to mother nature about midwinter.

That, in itself, is a problem for the gardener trying to introduce grasses into his garden. By the time the show begins it is often too late to plant them. Many of the ornamental grasses are warm season plants and will resent late season planting.

Annuals are another way to extend the season. There is an assortment of flowering cabbage and kale. These will last until temperatures are falling into the teens. I would include hardy mums with the annuals. Some people have good success but most of us struggle to call mums a reliable perennial.

Fall pansies are becoming more widely used around here. Planted now, they give us some fall enjoyment plus a big head start in the spring. They are pretty tough and a high percentage will survive our worst winters with little protection.

The problem with fall pansies is that they may be difficult to find. To be ready now they were started in mid summer, and you remember what mid summer does to your spring planted pansies.

Adding spring bulbs in the fall is the best, if not only, way to enjoy their "let's get the season started" beauty. Plant about three times deeper than the size of the bulb.

Extending the season or year round interest is just another factor to think about as you shop for plants.