Late Fall 2015
Saturday, November 28, 2015 at 5:00AM Fog shrouds the morning, but muted jewel tones filter through the mists. Soon sunshine burns away the haze, and bright light sparks through the leaves. The Japanese maples are especially resplendent in their fall foliage, bedazzling like the most brilliant gemstones. I walk through the garden, paying tribute to the last glorious burst of autumn.
The foliage of Deodar Cedar 'Feelin' Blue' is a lovely contrast to the warmer colors of fall..
My "marriage tree," now 40 years old!
The wonderful fall foliage of Japanese maple 'Orido Nishiki' lights up the woodland garden.
Camellia sasanqua 'Kanjiro'
Snowflake hydrangea, late fall
Acer japonica 'Waterfall'
A bee, buzzing about a snapdragon, takes advantage of the last warm days of fall.Showers of leaves come down with each wind gust. Soon autumn will bow before winter's breath, and even my Japanese maples will stand mute as the garden slumbers. But that's OK. It is time to turn my thoughts toward Christmas!
Addendum: There has been some misunderstanding about the age of my garden, because my marriage tree is forty years old. Actually, the tree was very small when we married, and we kept it in a pot for years, until we moved here in 1985. We planted it in the yard then. So we have been here in Helena for 30 years, not forty. However, a tornado destroyed everything in the front yard in 1990, except my marriage tree, which was not harmed at all. After the tornado, I began planting what has become my garden - so the garden itself is twenty-five years old. But what a joy to watch a garden grow for a quarter century! Sorry for the confusion. Deb
Reader Comments (16)
I have two Japanese maples stubbornly holding on to their leaves, but everyone else is already naked! Such a lovely garden walk, as always - and one day I will be there to see it!
How beautiful! You have so many lovely trees! That's so cool to have a 'marriage tree', and that you still live in the same place and can watch it grow to be so nice and big! Your garden with all the Japanese maples simply glows this time of year! I love your camellia, too. So pretty! Happy autumn!
Autumn is truly gorgeous in your lovely garden! So many rich and vibrant foliage colors to enjoy, but my favorite is those sweetgum leaves. I have similar photos in my fall tribute post, because they are a favorite of mine.
40 years in the same garden, that's an unusual achievement.
No wonder yours is such a beautiful garden!
I envy you your winter respite almost as much as I envy your beautiful collection of trees and their fabulous fall color. A little break from gardening would be welcome now as preparation for the arrival of El Nino rains continues while Christmas planning also demands attention. A neighbor put up Christmas lights in the shape of a giant tree this afternoon and, as I stare out my office window, I can't help but be reminded that the celebration isn't not far away.
Dear Deb, you autumn photos of the trees in your garden are so gorgeous! I am surprised that so many are still caring plenty of leaves. The acers look especially fantastic. I love the foggy atmosphere that blurs some of your photos. It looks very romantic, but I have to admit that I have the fantasy to want to retreat indoors with a cup of tea and watch the trees loosing their leaves from a cozy spot by the fireplace ;-)!
Warm regards,
Christina
You always have so much beautiful colour, no matter what time of year it is, you have made a wonderful garden over the last 40 years, it is really beautiful.
Wonderful to see all that rich color in your garden so late in the year.
Hi everyone! I wish you all the best, and thank you so much for your comments. There has been some misunderstanding about the age of my garden, because my marriage tree is forty years old. Actually, the tree was very small when we married, and we kept it in a pot for years, until we moved here in 1985. We planted it in the yard then. So we have been here in Helena for 30 years, not forty. However, a tornado destroyed everything in the front yard in 1990, except my marriage tree, which was not harmed at all. After the tornado, I began my garden - so the garden itself is twenty-five years old. But what a joy to watch a garden grow for a quarter century! Sorry for the confusion. I have added an addendum to the post to explain. Deb
Your Japanese Maples are incredible! How wonderful to have Camellias blooming at the same time as vibrant fall foliage. I think your garden is the place to be in late November! Cheers!
Deb, your garden is always absolutely beautiful but with all these wonderful autumn colors it is truly gorgeous right now. It must be so lovely to look out on it all and see all the colors change and develop. I really love the waterfall acer as the color of that one is so striking! Just gorgeous and fantastic photography as well!
I love getting to revisit fall foliage in your garden after it is long-gone in mine. :-)
Lovely photos as always. Japanese maples are so beautiful and great for late color. In response to your comment on my blog, they are already considered invasive. Here is a USDA map of invasive plants: http://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/subject.html?sub=3001.
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! What a garden and all its changes. love that Marriage Tree. Deb I wait all year to see your garden in fall...it is the most spectacular fall foliage show anywhere!!
Deb, your marriage tree is very special! What a story about its survival!
Looking at your garden, I realize how few trees I have in my own garden (except for firs). The good thing is I can admire all the beautiful trees in our neighborhood and beyond it.
Fall-blooming camellia is stunning!
Beautiful fall color in your gardens Deb. Your area really keeps the color much longer than up here. It is something the marriage tree survived the tornado. It was fate. You are very fortunate to have your marriage last and last too. So many don't now a days.