Autumn's Parting Gift
Sunday, December 11, 2016 at 3:20PM Autumn gave us a parting gift after another inch or two of rain and temperatures that plummeted into the frigid range. Wearing my warmest coat, I walked outside and then stopped in my tracks when I saw a blanket of colorful Japanese maple leaves on the path in the front garden.
I would have noticed a few lovely fallen leaves, but this EXUBERANCE took my breath away.
Forget for a moment that someone is going to have to rake not only the paths but also the shrubs. (That would be Lou. I think raking has become his favorite pastime, and I praise the great job he is doing.)
The sheer mass of red leaves makes me remember another path - one covered in cherry blossoms. I think of great swaths of daffodils, a desert carpeted in wildflowers, a trail edged with clouds of blue woodland phlox, an orchard of row upon row of olive trees: all sights that stay with me because of the magnitude of their elements.
Nature reminds me that beautiful gardens are not timid. They don't have to be big, but they must have commitment. OK, a hundred garish gnomes are not for me, but surely they would make a child smile! And that is more than some gardens accomplish.
Reader Comments (14)
Your red maple leaves are beautiful Deb. It's amazing how nature uses the landscape as a palette for its artwork.
I can hardly blame you, I would have done the same thing. That is a gorgeous combination of colors right there! I don't care much for winter, but I say that it is a price I'm willing to pay for the beauty that is autumn.
Beautiful! My poor Japanese maples (I just have 2 and one's a dwarf) are still holding on to their colorless brown leaves. Okay, yes, brown is a color too but you know what I mean.
ohmy! wow! just WOW! What a stunning blanket of red leaves, I love it!
I can't imagine raking autumn leaves from their neighbouring shrubs. That sounds like tricky hard work!!
Those images took my breath away too. The leaves in such number are beautiful. So good for the environment too, even if raking and mulching. I do feel bad for Lou, thatis a lot of raking.
Oh my goodness, that is nearly miraculously beautiful. What a wonderful, colorful gift. :)
I appreciate gardens and gardeners with commitment. Sometimes a little fanaticism also helps. Love all those bright red leaves.
Beautiful!
I've found a few Japanese maple leaves in the garden. (I don't have any of the trees myself, but some of the neighbors' leaves must have found their way to my yard.)
Raking shrubbery? Yikes. Can't say that would be on the top of my to-do list :P
Shame you can't freeze time. Just beautiful.
Gorgeous! I love Japanese maple leaves!
It is very pretty, Deb! Japanese maples are such wonderful additions to our gardens!
I hope you are having a nice Holiday Season!
Those red maple leaves are magnificent. Which Japanese maple is it? Are it's leaves this beautiful red color every year? Or is this nature's gift to you for putting up with so many dry days?
Thank you everyone for your comments! Denise, the japanese maple began as an unnamed seedling. The leaves are always beautiful, but I think they were even prettier this year!
Deb