In Jerry Boyer's world as a photojournalist and Spearfish Canyon Society president, it's time to savor the autumnal rhapsody of the deciduous trees as they burst into their fall colors. In Deb Dagget's world as owner of Flowers Plus and an avid gardener, it's the perfect time to plant that last bush, tree or bulb before the eventual frost finishes the growing season.

"I've been meaning to get this bush in all summer," Dagget said as she led the way to her side yard.

A snowball bush, sporting its fall hue, will brighten up the southeast corner of her yard. Currently at about 18 inches tall, it will reach about 4 feet in height and 10 feet in width at maturity, producing spectacular flowers that will look like snowballs. But even more prominently, it will add a scarlet hue to her yard as the growing season slips into fall.

"This time of year is the best time to plant," she said.

This includes trees, bushes, bulbs, grass seeds or sod, as well as perennials, she said.

While nurseries and garden centers are emptying their shelves of stock with sales, it might do a gardener good to take a drive through the Black Hills for ideas.

Boyer agrees.

"The colors are bursting out all over," he said.

According to Boyer, the color saturation of the deciduous trees, shrubs and foliage on the forest floor and throughout the forest in the Northern Hills is nearing its peak this weekend, Sept. 27-28.

"Overall saturation is at 70 percent in Spearfish Canyon, with higher elevations such as at Savoy at 75 percent. The lower elevations at Spearfish are at 50 percent saturation peak," Boyer said.

What he currently finds outstanding is the tide of oaks shimmering in brilliant golden leaves before climbing toward a desert orange and then the final rust color of fall. The aspen and birch trees have left the lime stage and have entered the yellow.

"They're quite magnificent in contrast to the canyon floor, which is showing the most brilliant red I have seen in many years," Boyer said.

Reds include the forest berries and leaves of ivy and sumac.

"They are just spectacular. You rarely get much red, but this year it's sensational," he said.

Like those gardens tended to spectacular heights within suburbs and cities, moisture has a lot to do with this seasonal fall beauty. Moisture throughout the year helps with the health of the trees. The Northern Hills has just entered a wet cycle. The rains from its cycle have nourished all of the deciduous trees and even the conifers are showing brilliant greens.

The change of colors is signaled by three different events that act in concert. The trees detect the lengthening nights, the cooling temperatures and the drier air of autumn.

"Last year we had nearly 80 percent saturation, then we had nonstop winds," he said.

If the premature snows or heavy, gusting winds stay away from the Northern Hills, Boyer believes an equal color saturation point will be achieved by October.

"We're still in for some spectacular touring in the early part of October if the snow and blow doesn't come," Boyer said. "We'll have a fantastic autumn rhapsody."

Contact Jomay Steen at 394-8418 or jomay.steen@rapidcityjournal.com.