Although we still have limbs down in the back garden, and some still hanging in the trees, fall beauty remains.
I always fall for fall.
Just look at these photos of Hamamelis × intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ and Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ in my front yard and back garden respectively. The witch-hazel sits between our front door and our bedroom. It is one of the first shrubs to bloom in spring, and Carol Michel and I talked about it on this week’s Gardenangelists podcast episode Dreaming of Spring in the Fall.
Hamamelis ‘Arnold Promise’ has such a beautiful vase shape. You should grow it. 
Hamamelis ‘Arnold Promise’ up close. 
H. arborescens ‘Annabelle’ 
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ turns the most beautiful shade of yellow in fall.
As for H. arborescens ‘Annabelle,’ she probably needs no introduction because I’ve written about her many times. She is one of my favorite hydrangeas for Oklahoma’s finicky climate.
A varied landscape with lots of Autumnal color
When I walked the garden last week, I was struck by how our varied landscape really plays some of its best notes in October and November. Ice storms aside, it does seem like autumn is starting later and lasting longer. We’ve had beautiful weather ever since that triple whammy. The cold snap from the ice storm made all of the fall colors pop.
We all need something beautiful in our lives right now. I’m really tired, and I’m sure you are too. 2020 has simply been exhausting, but you can’t stay scared all the time so let’s focus on fall beauty instead.
Lower back garden border with ‘Tamukeyama’ and asters and Kodiak Black® diervilla. 
Diervilla rivularis Kodiak Black® in its fall plumage.
A native shrub with many-colored leaves
I haven’t written much about Kodiak Black® diervilla from Proven Winners®, but it’s a great plant native to North America. In spring, the leaves are almost black, but they turn dark green in summer. As you can see in the photo above, the foliage turns orange in the fall. It has small yellow blooms in late spring. I have written about ‘Tamukeyama’ Japanese maple many times. I think they look great together.
Chrysanthemum koreana ‘Sheffield’ mum. It has lost its petals, but it’s still feeding pollinators. 
Sheffield mums with Pup Francis. I didn’t straighten this photo so that you can see how much my land slopes downward. 
Monarch butterfly with Sheffield mums. Even though the mums are losing their petals, the centers still feed pollinators with nectar. 
Chrysanthemum ‘Emperor or China’ tumbling over the sidewalk. 
Chrysanthemum ‘Fall Charm’ which has fallen on the sidewalk. So pretty. Needs better support and no ice storm.
Mums bloom late and make fall beautiful.
The Sheffield mums have all lost their petals, but their golden discs still feed pollinators. We’ve had some cold nights, but all of the mums keep on blooming. Some of their heads are so heavy that they fell on the sidewalks. I need to figure out a way to help support them next year. These mums are about all I have for Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day.
If I could suggest one thing about improving your garden to create four-season interest, it would be to plant interesting trees and shrubs. Shrubs and trees make all the difference. I only lost one Japanese maple in the ice storm, and I’m grateful because I love them so much in spring and fall. Just check out the color on ‘Peaches and Cream’ below.
Fall beauty is also always about loss.
All of those flaming leaves are about to fall, and we know winter comes quickly thereafter.
It’s taken me over a week to write this post. I’m sad to tell you we lost Bill’s sister, Carla Nash Richter, to ovarian cancer last Sunday. I’ve known her since I was 15 years old, and her death is a great loss to our large family. As recently as October, Carla and I walked the garden and talked plants. She always loved visiting the garden, and even though she was weak, I showed her daylilies I was thinning. I asked her if she wanted some. My son planted those daylily clumps for her along with an aster only a few weeks ago. I’m sad she won’t see them bloom in her garden, but she was excited when he planted them. I’m sure she was dreaming of next summer, and every gardener I know gets a twinkle in his/her eye as we dream of spring and summer and the garden’s yearly renewal. I’m glad she’s now at rest and no longer in pain, although I will miss walking the garden with her.
Hemerocallis ‘Jedi Tequila Sunrise’ 
H. ‘Jedi Tequila Sunrise’ was one of the daylilies I gave to Carla this fall.
As I wrote above, 2020 has been a very hard year, but fall beauty remains. I hope you are all well. Take care and we’ll talk soon.
I’m sorry that you’re still dealing with that ice storm mess. But isn’t it wonderful to have the most amazing fall colors this year? It’s as if Mother Nature knew we needed extra solace.
We really did have the most beautiful fall color, and I’m very grateful for it. It made it easier to work outside. ~~Dee
Trying to catch up on emails and yours are ones I save until I can get to them. I bought a small seedling of “Peaches and Cream” this year. Looking forward to seeing it become a “tree”! Sorry for the loss of your sister-in-law. I have had such conflicted feeling this year. I had the birth of my first grand child this year in February. She has been such a joy! However, COVID has been so hard in so many ways. I keep reminding myself, for everything there is a season. Blessing for the rest of the year.
Hi June, so nice to see you! I think you’ll love Peaches and Cream. It’s a beauty. We welcomed our granddaughter in February this year too so it’s the happy high point of our year. Hug that grandbaby. The vaccines are coming. Hang in there!
It sure helps to have a bit of beauty to look at with all the hard times you have been going through. So sorry to hear about your sister in law. That is a significant amount of years to share with someone and especially hard to lose her during this already difficult year.
Hi Linda, it is sad, but she was ill for a very long time, and she’s no longer in pain. We take comfort in that. Bill’s family has been a part of my life for a very long time. I do love fall, and I know everyday we’re a bit closer to spring. 🙂 ~~Dee
Lovely Foliage blooms.It would be my pleasure if you join my link up party related to gardening where you can share posts related to plants and flowers here at http://jaipurgardening.blogspot.com/2020/11/garden-affair-happy-diwali.html
Hi Arun, thanks for the invite. I’ll do my best.
So sorry to hear of the loss of your sister-in-law. I lost my brother last year. I remember reading your blog when your sister passed. The holidays are hard without our loved ones who have passed. Thank you for sharing so many positive things reminding me to be thankful. I really enjoy your podcast with Carol I listen to it while I walk my dog.
Hi Becky, first, I’m so sorry about your brother. Losing a sibling is very hard. My heart goes out to you. Yes, my sister’s birthday was November 2. I thought about her all day and sent up a little prayer. I’m going to think of you walking your sweet dog when we record our next podcast. That makes me very happy. Thank you. ~~Dee
You and Carol made my day when i heard your podcast shout out. Thank you both! Love and peace
Becky, always glad to make your day. Thank you for listening!
Love Japanese Maples and the “Peaches and Cream” looks gorgeous! I have a dwarf fothergilla
that is showing beautiful fall color. So sorry for your loss.
Thank you Michele. I love fothergilla, but I can’t seem to grow it. Shrug. Everybody has things they can’t grow. Enjoy yours!~~Dee
So sorry for your family’s loss, dear Dee. Your sentence “Fall beauty is also always about loss,” really hit me. I think that’s why some years I enjoy autumn more than others. The knowing that the brilliant color and beauty is so fleeting can be difficult. But there’s no denying the majesty of fall foliage. Thanks for sharing the beauty of your late autumn garden. 🙂
Beth, my Grandma Nita told me once that she didn’t like fall because it reminded her of death. I was in my teens so I thought at the time that she was overreacting. I now understand better what she means. It’s still my favorite season because each day is one closer to spring. Hugs. ~~Dee
So sorry your SIL lost her battle, but how wonderful that you were able to bring her some joy with your gift of plants. We will all be glad to see the last of 2020 and can only hope the new year brings better times. Our garden season is definitely over here in western NY. I dug the dahlias yesterday and they are drying on the basement floor. Winds whipping today and rain expected later.
Hi Patricia, I love the thought of your dahlias drying and being prepared for next year. It makes me smile. The wind whipped here the other night too. I couldn’t believe how the leaves whirled and swirled in the night air. ~~Dee
Beautiful photos!
The one that really jumped out to me was the ‘Northwind’ Grass – lovely!
Sorry to hear of your SIL’s death.
Have a blessed day!
You too Lea, you too. I do love ‘Northwind.’ Great grass.~~Dee
Sorry for y’all’s loss. The Peach’s and Cream color is sooo pretty. Glad to hear Annabelles leaves turn yellow. I have a new one and thought maybe it was not doing well.
Thank you. ‘Peaches and Cream’ is a wonderful small tree. It takes several years for it to grow so large. ‘Annabelle’ will eventually lose all its leaves. This is all normal. Cheers!~~Dee
I’m so sorry for the loss of your sister-in-law. Such an awful year.
Thank you Heather. I’m glad she’s no longer in pain. I’m so done with 2020 except I’m excited about the holidays as safely as we can celebrate, of course. ~~Dee
Stunning fall beauty still showing up, especially that Japanese maple. Wow! 2020 has indeed been rough, but I feel like we were rewarded with a stellar autumn. So sorry to hear about your SIL.
It was a truly beautiful autumn. We’re supposed to have fabulous weather this week. Thank you.~~Dee
So glad you still have lots of fall beauty in the garden after all the devastation from the ice storms, Dee.
Ginny, I think the cold from the ice storms is what made the color in the garden so lovely.~~Dee