Miss Peach (Ellen S. Ewell, our second granddaughter) took me by surprise when she observed recently that she wanted to lead a life like mine, except that she would work with animals rather than with plants. Her family is encouraging her to follow her dreams by exposing her to a wide range of experiences-including books, videos, and camps-relating to animals.

After reading the article by Karan Davis Cutler in this issue of The American Gardener, it occurred to me that perhaps there's a way Miss Peach can have the best of both worlds and work with plants and animals. Cutler gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how zoo horticulturists are meeting the challenges of designing realistic habitats for animals from areas as climatically and geographically varied as the arctic and the equator. Many zoos now include plant displays that rival those of botanical gardens.

Fall is the best time to gather and plant seeds of many hardy plants, so be sure to read tree expert Guy Sternberg's article on how to grow native American nut trees from seed. Because some of these American classics are difficult to transplant once their roots develop, they are often unavailable from nurseries.

Autumn is also a time gardeners desperately seek flowering plants to fill the color void. Garden writer and landscape designer C. Colston Burrell profiles toad lilies (Tricyrtis spp.), a little-known genus of herbaceous perennials with jewellike flowers perfect for brightening moist, shady areas of the garden in late summer and fall.

Fall and winter are the perfect seasons to think about garden projects, so you will no doubt enjoy garden designer Barbara Blossom Ashmun's article about how to create paths to complement all kinds of garden styles. Or you can read about a garden project of a more lavish nature in Catherine M. Brown's description of the challenge Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux faced in their 1865 design of New York City's Prospect Park. This renowned urban landscape continues to serve as a backyard for the countless "gardenless" residents of that great metropolis.

In our Millennium Focus section, we examine the role genetic engineering is playing in the breeding of ornamental and agricultural plants. Advances in both genetic and classical plant breeding techniques hold forth the promise of disease- and pest-resistant plants, new flower colors, and more nutritious vegetables.

Think of the glorious things Miss Peach will learn to do in this brave new world of the 21st century. Join her, and us, in embracing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Ever in green and purple,

H. Marc Cathey, AHS President Emeritus