Coral bark Japanese maple (Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku') meaning "coral tower" because the bark is red
Busy this week with maternal duties and, later, writing projects, I nearly failed to glance outside my window. Thank goodness I did.
Beneath a cloudy haze, a golden landscape beckoned. I grabbed my camera and let the screen door slap shut behind me. Beneath the soles of my Keds, recycled, river rock crunched, and the wind blew me toward trees and shrubs ablaze with color. Who needs flowers when your eyes can feast upon this?
Dynamite crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) Red blooms in summer and orange foliage in fall
Crapemyrtles turning shades of ochre and bronze.
Zebra grass, Miscanthus sinensis waving in the prairie wind
Grasses singing their sweet, soft melody while their heads whip in the wind.
Native oaks in richer colors than in years past
Majestic oaks tower above it all, holding their bronzed arms aloft against the sky.
Brown crepe paper blooms of Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'
Still, a few flowers hang on, and their colors are true in this subtle October light.
Branches of unknown crapemyrtle with roses, artemesia, Mexican bush sage and maiden grass. 'The Fairy' rose is on the left.
Some find fall sad, but I don’t. Two years ago, I wrote about the phenom of fall color, and last year, I went in search of it. Although I love spring’s sparkling newness (the season always reminds me of a spring green crayon), I also love fall’s golden fruition, a time to reflect over the completed season while we, gardeners, wait for winter to dream about an even more beautiful “next year.”
Nice! Uploaded a autumn picture to my blog. check it out below.
Fall isn’t as bland as I remember in OK. I was just down there about 2 weeks ago and every day it was damp and cold. Oh, and nice new header image! Maybe it’s been there for a while, though….
.-= Benjamin´s last blog ..We’ve Got Color, Yes We Do =-.
Hi Benjamin, the color was especially good this year. We had abundant rain and the perfect fall weather of cool nights and warm days. No, I just got the new blog theme. Thanks so much.~~Dee
Our colors turned all of a sudden, too. Lovely scenes,evocative commentary.
.-= Ilona´s last blog ..My Autumn #2 =-.
Thanks Ilona. I appreciate your kind words.~~Dee
Fall is indeed a beautiful time in your garden. We don’t get that much fall color (well, it shows up in January, LOL) but the cool crisp air is a welcome change from summer’s heat and humidity.
Fantastic blog design! Lovely post Dee, just lovely. Congrats.
Beautiful shots of fall. It will be at least another month before we start seeing that much color……..enjoy!
.-= compostinmyshoe´s last blog ..Fragrant Ladies Showing Off =-.
crape myrtle is one of the absolute best for fall color, isn’t it? i was just noticing the ones around my neighborhood this morning – all red and orange. yellows are pretty, too, but somehow not quite as exciting.
I loved sharing that walk with you. We’re still a few weeks away from that beauty but it must be heading our way!
I must have that New Englander’s prejudice that no place has fall color the way we do – but you have opened my eyes. Beautiful post.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful tribute to autumn, Dee! Although I have been admiring the colors of fall this past week, I’ve neglected to take any photos . . . and it’s raining again. I’d better hurry–two of my trees have already lost all their leaves!
I wish I had more time to look at and photograph the colors right outside my door as you have–the brilliant yellow perennials and dusky rose hydrangeas and now the Boston ivy are just as pretty as anything I could see on a drive. I love your crape myrtle; I never saw that in fall before.
Thank you for sharing the wonderful photo’s of your garden.
Maybe feeling sad in fall depends on how long your winter is. I wouldn’t mind putting on my winter coat if I didn’t know that I’d still be wearing it 6 or 7 months later!
Lovely photos.
I could just hear that screen door slapping closed behind you. Our responsibilities sometimes get in the way of opening our eyes to what is going on around us. Nature has so much to offer whether it be Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter. I must confess, Fall is my favorite time of year…but ask me again in Spring and you might get a different answer.
🙂 Lovely photos with words that paint a picture as well.
So glad the screen door didn’t spank you on the way out, you must have been in a hurry! JK. The oak trees with the fence and gate is frame worthy, my friend! Fall beckons us out, it is hard to stay inside when the sun is shining just so on those flaming trees. Love your coral bark and crepes too. 🙂
Frances
We have many of the same things in our garden blooming only a different neck of the woods! Thanks for sharing – I am loving your color.
Hi, Just drop by from Blotanical.
You are right when you mention, “who need flowers when you have these” I totally agree with you.
I love the colors of fall! The only thing that makes me sad about fall is that it just doesn’t last very long and then winter comes and last forever. Six months of naked trees, snow, ice and cold dreary days. You can’t beat the beauty of fall but after winter, I’m so ready for spring! That’s why spring is my favorite season.
Hello,
I think your pictures more then prove your point about the beauty of autumn. It is just a different kind of beauty then that of the other season’s.
I love the leaf color in your first photo. They look like they are chartreuse.
Dee, I’m in total agreement with you on fall. Who could not be thrilled when seeing these great colors. Glad you took the time to enjoy the season’s offerings.
The colors are so wonderful. I love an autumn tour around the garden.
As if we need another reason to plant Crape Myrtles. We plant lesser trees just for a similar fall color. Thanks for sharing.
I’d be hard-pressed, Dee, to say which season is my favorite – fall or spring. They both hold a special feeling of change that I find exhilarating. I welcome autumn, if not what follows. I see it as a final dessert before winter.
.-= Kylee from Our Little Acre´s last blog ..?? (Wabi-sabi) =-.
I love fall, too, with all the warm colors. It seems every morning there is a new tree or shrub that has turned from green to some “wow” color almost overnight. It’s almost, but not quite, like finding new blooms in the spring.
Thanks for a beautiful autumn post!
The crape myrtle is wonderful Dee! The last shot is a perfect photo of fall in a garden! I love fall, too; all of it~~the light, the colors and that crispness in the air. I’ll miss the garden, but the garden and gardener need to rest. gail
Beautiful! The change in the last two days has been unbelievable!
One of the best years in a long time, eh Tim?~~Dee
Beautifully written and beautifully pictured too, Dee. There’s certainly no mourning of Autumn here in Austin.
Thank you so much.~~Dee
Fall is probably my least favorite season…but if I had your lovely views I might alter my ranking methods.
Yes, your climate changes during the year are much more subtle, so I can see why you would feel that way.~~Dee
Wowee – I’m digging that Maple & the Crapemyrtle. Great color. I love autumn too.
Thanks, I love them both too.~~Dee
Your crape myrtles are beautiful! I can’t wait, another month or so and mine will be ablaze, too! Fall is a wonderful time, I hurry in spring to get everything planted and don’t have enough time to just sit and admire the garden. By the time fall gets here, I can sit and fully appreciate my mature garden.
Nola, you’ve got it exactly right. Fall is a great time to appreciate our gardens. Thanks for the reminder.~~Dee
It’s good to make time for an autumn walk. If you had as much snow and cold to look forward to as I did, you might find the end of autumn mournful.
.-= Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening´s last blog ..A Good Year for Witch Hazels =-.
Yes, Kathy, if I had to wait so long for spring, I think I would actually be depressed. Hang in there my friend.~~Dee
Dee,
Thanks for sharing your gorgeous photos. You have such a good eye. Glad you went out that screen door with camera in hand …
Janell
Thank you Janell. I think you also have a good eye. You also write so very well.~~Dee
I just love this time of year. These golden hued colors are just the most beautiful part of fall.
Me too, Lisa. It’s the garden’s fare thee well.~~Dee