Happy Friday, garden enthusiasts! As another week comes to a close, there is no more pretending that summer lingers on. Crisp fall temperatures have officially arrived across the Midwest, and the changing leaves are putting on quite a magnificent, final show before the inevitable return of winter. While the traditional growing season is winding down for many green thumbs living in colder climates, there remains an abundance of opportunities to keep color alive and vibrant in the landscape through seasonal containers.
Few people master this seasonal transition quite like Howard, a seasoned Chicago-based container designer who has been creating breathtaking arrangements for nearly four decades. Howard is no stranger to sharing his visionary work with the gardening community, having previously showcased his vibrant spring container creations and delightfully creative Halloween displays. Today, he returns with an entirely new collection of autumn containers captured during a recent project in Glencoe, Illinois, situated neatly in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a.
The bulk of these stunning autumn arrangements relies on the structural beauty of ornamental cabbage and kale (Brassica oleracea cvs.), serving as the hardy foundation for the cooler months ahead. Yet, it is the thoughtful details that truly elevate the displays. In one prominent installation, clusters of deep burgundy berries emerge as the absolute stars of the show, accompanied by twisting woody stems that introduce a touch of whimsical movement and tie the entire visual composition together seamlessly.
Set against the rustic, earthy tones of traditional planters, these arrangements harmonize effortlessly with the surrounding architecture and stonework. The thoughtful inclusion of clipped boxwood topiaries (Buxus sempervirens, Zones 5–8) creates a formal, evergreen backdrop that makes the heavily ruffled, multicolored foliage of the ornamental cabbage and kale pop with striking intensity. It serves as a masterclass in how well-designed containers can actively complement the existing permanent landscape and elevate even the smallest corners of a garden property.
A short distance away, a series of weathered rectangular containers demonstrates the power of visual grouping. At first glance, the planters appear as one continuous, elongated window box, creating a far greater impact than if they had been sporadically scattered across the patio space. Ornamental cabbage and kale continue to hold center stage in these displays, while carefully chosen accents of rich purple and deep burgundy recur through various plant elements, including flowers and berries. This intentional repetition of color and plant variety ties the entire Glencoe property’s aesthetic together without making every individual arrangement look identical or repetitive.
Even amidst the messy reality of gardening—complete with empty pots and discarded plant tags scattered casually across the ground—the final results speak for themselves. Another remarkable patio arrangement on the same rainy afternoon showcases the brilliant marriage of cool-season foliage and late-season blooms, framed by a soft pink panicle hydrangea and vibrant purple pansies.
At yet another residence on the exact same damp, overcast day, Howard delivered a final container design that stands out as an absolute triumph. The sculptural effect of twisting woody vines integrated with cascading clusters of golden berries hanging delicately throughout the composition creates an unforgettable visual impact. Paired alongside fiery, colorful croton foliage, the arrangement offers a magnificent, welcoming greeting to anyone approaching the home. It is a striking example of autumn container design at its finest, providing ample inspiration for gardeners looking to extend their outdoor enjoyment well into the cooler months.
