`AUTUMN'S FLAMING REVUE' HAS BEEN A SPLENDID FALL SHOW OF LONG DURATION

Leaves are dancing from the trees in a choreograph of color, doing a fandango as they are caught in the breezes and winds of a show called "Autumn's Flaming Revue."

Yes, the leaves of Autumn are upon us in the dazzling splendor of the year's most colorful season.

It has been a long running show, starting early and now reaching its peak in startling vistas sweeping across the hills, a palette of reds, yellows, crimsons, oranges and greens.

The show is earning rave reviews from its critics, and if you want to be one of them, then this is the day to see the show. Do not wait much longer. It soon will leave the boards for another year.

Fall color is, indeed, one of Nature's many secrets. A few points are well understood regarding the phenomenon, but scientists have failed to solve many questions such as: "Why does this hard maple turn yellow in the autumn, while the one beside it of the same species and apparently living under the identical environment, turns a brilliant red?"

Fall color of shrubs and trees in Nature's clue for us to do fall planting, since they have begun to close their factories and will soon be dormant. There is no need to delay planting until all the leaves have fallen. Handle the new plants as quickly as possible and keep them well watered after planting. Warm soil with plenty of moisture makes a favorable condition for the production of new roots before winter sets in.

While enjoying the fall color of native trees in the woods, woodsides or in homeowner's landscape, you may wish to choose new trees to replace old trees or shrubs, or plant new ones to have such beauty in your own yard. This is an ideal time to select that tree while it is still in color.

Some trees, such as sugar maples and red maples, almost always produce brilliant colors. These may range from yellow to orange to a bright red. There are scarlet oaks and yellow hickories.

There is nothing as beautiful as sunshining on a golden gingko tree when it is just ready to drop its leaves all in one day about this time of the year.

Trees do not have the monopoly on fall color and a shifting focal point can be created in the planting area by selecting shrubs and vines that develop beautifully colored leaves in fall.

One of the best shrubs for fall colors is spectacular that it is known as the burning bush. It is the winged euonymous. The leaves turn a brilliant pink to scarlet in fall and corky ridges on the twigs continue to make it decorative even after the leaves have fallen. A dwarf form grown up to four or five feet tall and makes an excellent eye-catching shrub at this time of year. It may also be used in a hedge that needs little trimming.

There is a special note that must be added here from our own experience with this shrub. It must have sun. This we found out the difficult way of error. A burning bush was planted in our yard where trees had grown to maximum size, allowing no sunshine on the shrub. It's green leaves stayed green, not even turning. Now, three swamp maples have been cut, allowing the sunshine to penetrate and hopefully the burning bush will become red.

Fall is an ideal time to plant decidous trees and shrubs. Not only is it a more pleasant season than spring for working outside, but fall planting has been found to be more successful. The soil is cooler because of the shortened days and often moist from autumn rains, not wet as it soften is in the spring.

Roots keep on growing until the soil temperature drops below 40 degrees and if newly planted shrubs and trees get at least four weeks growth, they should be established before the really cold weather comes. Many nurserymen prefer to wait until this month to set out new plants.

Cool fall air creates less stress to plant tops during the adjustment period after planting. however, the greatest limitation to fall planting may come from the winter that follows. Severe winters can create exceptional stress to a plant with a limited system.

Dormant deciduous plants which are normally winter hardy have little problem adjusting. If plants such as magnolias, azaleas, flowering dogwood, rhododendron or holly are moved in the fal, special winter protection should be given.

A generous mulch over roots helps prevent drying and stabilizes soil temperatures. There are many types of mulches to choose from, including grass clipping, shredded leaves and wood bark. We prefer the latter, with pine needles for azaleas, rhododendron and hollies.

Autumn is a beautiful, busy and rewarding time of the year.