W ith a little bit of fall in the air, it’s only fitting that the pots on the front porch should match, and this weekend’s weather will make the perfect backdrop for the project.

Forecasts show a very slight chance of rain and temperatures that will top out in the high 80s on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, that high will drop to 81 degrees as the chance of rain increases to 40 percent.

On Thursday, Ann Walker was busy arranging pots at Blue Goose Garden Shop on U.S. Hwy. 84.

“You can definitely tell fall is on the way,” Walker said. “And with it comes all the regular fall merchandise – marigolds and mums – that will make your landscape beautiful.”

Walker said pots are an easy way to bring color and style to a home’s exterior.

“What I tell people is fall plants look great in a pot,” she said. “One thing you need to remember when creating is that contrast is key.

“That means add a variety of grass for height and croton or coleus for lots of color,” she said.

Marigolds are also a fall staple.

“Marigolds will give you the best bang for your buck,” Walker said. “With their long life span, you can have color until after the first big frost. When you buy marigolds, it’s money better spent.”

Also topping Walker’s must-have fall list are ornamental grasses, sun coleus and petunias.

“We also use a lot of asparagus fern,” she said. “It stays pretty through the winter.”

Fall vegetables such as ornamental cabbage and kale will be arriving on site next week, and once planted, provide a fantastic backdrop for pumpkins – just in time for Halloween, she said.