Autumn Leaves and Other Things I Love
Sunday, October 27, 2013 at 8:10PM The autumn garden has such gladness when the sun is shining. Leaves upon the trees turn into stained glass wonders, if only for moments with the passing rays:
This dogwood gives promise for next spring as it holds flower buds above its beautiful fall foliage.I love this season, not for the dying, but for the aging glory and for the celebration of winter's rest to come. I love the details of an autumn leaf — still fluttering on the branch, or fallen to the ground, or twisting in the breeze, caught in a crafty spider's web:
Dried Trident maple seed pods, still clinging to the tree, look like delicate parchment paper blooms:
The rose tints of a fading hydrangea bloom linger on into the season, and other flowers put out fresh buds, despite the chilliness of fall nights:
I have moved this Ipomoea carnea, or bush morning glory, three times. It is tall and skinny, and I finally found a good home for it beside this birdhouse. 
The bush morning glory seems to like the cooler temperatures of fall.
A few years ago I banished most of the Nandina domestica plants from my garden for their aggressiveness, pulling them up by the scores, but leaving only a couple, for I cannot part with their berries completely. I cut them off, when my eyes have had my fill of them.
Stump World knows no season, as its slow decay nourishes life throughout the year, but moss, fungi, and lichen are particularly lovely during fall:
May you take time to reflect upon some of nature's finest details, and have a great week! Deborah
Reader Comments (22)
Thanks for the reminder not to look at autumn as the time before winter, but as a beautiful season in its own right. There's still so much color, blooms, and life to see.
Autumn is a wonderful season full of rich earthy colours. A short season worth relishing. Thanks for sharing your pics Debs, lovely to see on a stormy day here :)
I love Autumn's splendor! Thanks for sharing these lovely views from your gardens!
I like how you captured not only the glorious stained glass colors of fall in your garden, but also the soft look of decay. The air smells so sweet this time of year from all the decaying plant life. A beautiful season!
Your autumn images, mixing vibrant color with faded glory, certainly are delicious.
I look at nandina with comradeship instead of my former longing, as I can grow my own again now that I'm back in Georgia. My reasoning on this wonderful plant: It's no more invasive than the grower allows it to be.
There is so much beauty around us, even at this time of year, and you have found it with your camera, super photos Deb!
Stumps I can do! Love your images as always and I think the birdhouse combo is just perfect.
You are a woman after my own heart... isn't this a beautiful season? I'm reflecting on some of natures finest details through your wonderful images, Deb. And now I've fallen in love with that particular morning glory which I've never met before. Please don't tell me it won't survive in zone 5.
Just checked... it doesn't. (sigh)
Here there are very few signs of autumn. One of the walnut trees is loosing its leaves very slowly, the other is retaining them. Autumn colour is only from the crab apples and the Nandina, which isn't a problem here as it is for you.
The Nandina berries are beautiful. I love red berries in the fall, unfortunately the ones in mine - Viburnum trilobum and spicebush - were eaten up early. We still have some crabapples, and I find those to be attractive.
Nice images of Fall. Love those leaves and berries, they scream Fall is here.
Perfect positioning of the Ipomoea!
Deb, you have such a knack for capturing the beauty of fall in your garden. It's funny, because I never think of the south as having much fall color, but obviously I am wrong!
I can picture you wandering around your garden staring at everything because I do it myself. Hours can go by. The morning glory and the birdhouse roof are a perfect match.
Hi Deb
You put into words what I have been seeing in the backyard lately: that the sun shining through the brightly coloured leaves is like a stained glass window. Yes! And it sure is beautiful.
Thanks for your great pictures and especially of that fabulous bush morning glory. Lovely!
Autumn is a glorious time in the garden, when it seems that nature takes a deep breath, and settles down to sleep. You have captured it with exquisite detailing...the colors of your garden are stunning.
My garden wants to be yours when it grow up.
Jen
Thanks for reminding me about the beauties of autumn. It has been rather gray here the past few days. I hope to catch a bit of sun in the days ahead. It can be such a stunning season!
Fall is my favorite season. I just love all the brilliant colors of the leaves. It is also such a season of promise to me, as well, as I get a lot of garden preparation for the next year done in fall. New beds are created, trees and bushes are planted, discount plants are bought, and bulbs are tucked into the ground waiting for spring..
Oh Deborah such lovely leaves and other foliage...and a surprise...blooms.
I recently learned that nandina domestica berries contain cyanide and are toxic to birds in large quantities. I wonder if that's why many of the new varieties are berry-less. Your fall garden is beautiful. I love those mums. :o)
I love the bush morning glory and the shot of the dogwood leaves! So lovely!