The end of November brings a sadness for fading glory and a resolve to love winter in spite of it. Fall colors peaked during November, then within days it is gone.
In the following grouping, the photos on the left were taken on November 18, the ones on the right were taken today, November 30:
Watch the Japanese maple, Orido Nishiki, on the right in the following photos as the month progresses.
Nov. 5:
Nov. 12:
Nov. 17:
Nov. 20:
And today, Nov. 30, most of the beautiful leaves are on the ground, covering the moss path.
Not all leaves have fallen, and some of the ones that have are still quite interesting:
Recent frost shriviled and browned flowers that had persisted well into the month, but they were pretty while they lasted. Yes, I know the ornamental cabbage on the second row is not a flower, but it is pretty enough to be one. It also is the only one to be unfazed by the frost:
Some woodland trees, photos taken less than two weeks ago. Only the evergreen Feelin' Blue, a weeping deodar cedar, looks the same now:
Finally, here is my Tin Man, given to me years ago by a dear friend, and a few other garden ornaments. The large urn is a water reservoir in the woodland garden, which fortunately I have not needed to use at all this month:
Now it's time to look toward winter, to Christmas and family gatherings, to snuggling under the blankets, to fires upon the hearth, to homemade soup and warm comforting drinks, to good books and garden catalogues, and maybe, just maybe, to a little bit of snow!