We are all better gardeners in the spring.

Our energy is high and the garden centers are full of things in bloom to capture our imagination.

Somewhere around August, however, we lose our gardening steam. Between the heat and the mosquitos and the droopy plants, our enthusiasm wanes.

When fall comes and the temperatures cool and gardening becomes appealing again, we regret that we did not plan better for this time of year.

Nancy Ondra and Stephanie Cohen, along with photographer Rob Cardillo, show us the way with their new book, Fallscaping: Extending your garden season into autumn.

This isn't just a pretty picture book of impossible fall landscapes.

The authors have including designs, planting guides and plant lists for a variety of places in your yard that can be "fallscaped." Plus container designs and groupings to carry your deck or patio through the fall.

In addition, there is a chapter on fall garden care that helps you settle your garden in for the winter and getting a leg up on next spring.

This is more than a pretty picture book. It is a pretty useful book.

($22.95 from Storey Publishing)