Because many of these dream plants possess distinctive, often architectural forms, they can look equally wonderful standing alone as specimen plants in large pots, as well as planted out in big sweeps in an open garden.

Like bamboos and the tall, purple, see-through late season verbena, V bonariensis, ornamental grasses have been de rigueur in modern gardens for some years now.

Despite a recent move among some garden writers and designers to discredit them as garden-unworthy, they have not toppled from their popular perch and remain firmly fixed in the firmament of fashion. Long may they remain there.

Time was in Ireland when you couldn't get a decent selection of ornamental grasses to choose from, but happily they are no longer in short supply, thanks to Irish nursery growers who are now producing a wonderful array of the loveliest kinds . . . and their favourite hardy herbaceous perennial flowering companions . . . for the burgeoning retail market.

So it's a good time to see them now and no better place than during the autumn sale at the beautiful new Mount Venus Nursery at Tibradden on the weekend of 21 & 22 October (10am to 6pm), when there will be 20% off the entire stock of grasses, bamboos, unusual perennials (many completely new additions), woodland plants, trees and shrubs.

The new Mount Venus Nursery is really worth a visit.

It's situated in a sheltered Victorian walled garden which, like The Secret Garden of children's literature, has been woken out of a long, completely overgrown slumber, cleared of brambles and other invaders and has now recently emerged into the light as the most perfectly formed nursery you can imagine.

Situated about a mile from its old site at Stocking Lane, Dublin 14, the new place is still in the foothills of the Dublin mountains above Rathfarnham, just off Tibradden Road on Mutton Lane.

Contact 01-493 3813 or visit www. mountvenus. com.

Another good place to see and buy the best of grasses, bulbs and perennials is at June Blake's fabulous Garden & Nursery just off the main Blessington road at Tinode, Co Wicklow. The garden is open until 28 October from Tuesday to Saturday, 10am5.30pm, or by appointment.

Phone 087-2770399 or email juneblakes_nursery@yahoo. ie.

June's brother, Jimi Blake, has a garden planted with grasses and unusual perennials at nearby Hunting Brook Gardens. Jimi holds a range of courses there throughout the year and while the garden is open at certain times, this month it's only open to groups for guided tours by appointment, with refreshments available.

Email: jimi@huntingbrook. com or phone 01-4583972/0872856601.

TO PLANT NOW September into October is one of the two best times to plant evergreens (the other is April), while the weather is still warm and there's time for roots to settle in before the cold bites and growth slows down. In the first year after planting, water them regularly if they look dry.

This is most important for evergreens, and for all newly planted trees, climbers and shrubs.

It might come as a surprise to the novice gardener, but drought is not confined to the summer months. It can hit . . .

and often kills . . . young, newlyplanted trees and shrubs in autumn and winter as well, especially those planted in containers.

It is a misconception that container gardening is somehow low maintenance. The truth is that plants in pots need constant care and attention, as a quick glance up at many apartment balconies in town and city will evidence.

ONE FOR WINTER SCENT If you plant a winter-flowering Viburnum farreri this autumn, you will be rewarded every year with little sprays of pale pink flowers that, when picked and brought into a warm room in winter, will infuse the whole space with a sweet and memorable scent. Outside, if you grow it near a window, balcony or a door you use often, it will waft its sweetness on the midwinter air.

This shrub is not very large or showy so can be grown in a small space, or kept smallish by pruning after flowering, in spring. It's grown mainly for its extraordinary fragrance at a time when such things are rare enough and therefore very precious.

The little flowers appear on bare stems from about November onwards to spring, and are followed by bronze leaves.

These then change to an unremarkable green, so it's best to keep it in a not too prominent place, where it can fade into the summer background until its chance to shine comes around again.