I feel a sense of relief and excitement now that fall has graced us with pleasant temperatures and increased rainfall. Before we know it the first freeze will arrive, perhaps closing the chapter on gardening for the year. Or so I thought.

Recently, as I was flipping through my favorite gardening books, I realized two things: there's more to San Antonio gardening than esperanzas and lantanas; and gardening here doesn't end with the season's first frost.

In "Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region" by Sally Wasowski, I came across some Texas natives – best planted in this current season – that we should all be more familiar with. Flameleaf sumac and evergreen sumac dislike soggy soils and they provide abundant food supplies for birds and bees. Evergreen sumac blooms in August, provides excellent screening and remains green throughout the change of seasons, while flameleaf sumac puts maple trees to shame with fiery red leaves in fall. You'll see quite a few of them along most any route through the Hill Country.

In Scott Ogden's book "Gardening Success with Difficult Soils," hellebores and winter honeysuckle are hailed for their tolerance of calcareous soils. Neither is native, but both are well-adapted and can be planted in cool or cold temperatures, with a generous covering of mulch. And, they each boast blooms that stand out in winter landscapes. Also known as Lenten rose, hellebores tolerate moist shade and single digit temperatures. Winter honeysuckle blooms December through April, emitting a sweet, far-reaching fragrance.

Erin Conant is a conservation consultant for San Antonio Water System.