The Golden Glow of Early Fall
Sunday, October 13, 2019 at 7:15PM Fall has come, at last! Temps have dropped about thirty degrees, and some life-sustaining rain is making me and my plants happy. Overnight, plants perked up, and a few leaves are beginning to show fall colors. Last week I watched as autumn's mellow sunshine filtered through the woodlands, layering buttery tints amidst the leaves. I inhaled lungfuls of cool air, so refreshing after September's long breath of hell.
Here are some of my trees. Early fall is still green, but these trees know summer is over!
Fallen leaves are beginning to cover our moss paths. We go from watering daily to daily raking!
The heart-shaped leaves of this Redbud tree (Cercis canadensis) are just beginning to reveal their golden autumn colors:
Foliage generally appears brighter and healthier since the arrival of cooler weather:
Clockwise from top left: Deodar cedar 'Feelin' Blue'; Eastern Dogwood (Cornus Florida); Coniogramme emeiensis 'Golden Zebra' fern; Edgeworthia chrysantha, commonly called paperbush; Autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora); Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior).
Here is one leafy view from my patio. The weeping tree on the left is a dwarf lace-leaf Japanese maple:
This old cast iron birdbath is a favorite with owls and other large birds:
Here are a few more garden ornaments, which don't depend on the weather to look good!
That leads me to something new! There is an area (approximately 10' x 10') in the woodland garden in which even weeds refuse to grow. I once attempted to put my shovel into the soil there and it bounced back with a loud clunk. A pick-ax did no better. Dynamite was the next step, but I decided to cover it with pine straw instead. Later I added a small potted Japanese maple. That was an improvement, but the space needed more. I recently put in a couple of colorful pots. I may or may not plant something in them. So here is my new woodland "pot garden". The gazing ball is located in an adjacent space that is covered with vinca minor and has no problem growing weeds:
Reader Comments (8)
I'm sure you're thrilled with the temperatures change and the arrival of rain, Deb. I know I would be! It's wonderful that you're already seeing your foliage turn. Pots are the best solution in some areas I've found.
Lovely, Deb! Hasn't the weather been a wonderful change?! xo
I'm so glad the temerature has dropped for you and that your plants have now received some refreshing rain.We have no shortage of rain over here, the leaves are falling and turning gold, autumn has been with us for a while.
I enjoyed seeing your towering forest trees. They are magical.in their stately majesty.
We have owls here too, and hear them hooting in the night, but only very rarely see, at most, a dark silhouette . Must be fascinating to see them at a bird bath!
Best wishes for a mild autumn, to make up for your very hot September.
Love beautiful blue pots - in my garden too.
Oh, those are lovely images! I know how hard it is to get the light right in a woodland, and you've captured it perfectly, Happy autumn!
I'm glad your temperatures have cooled. That must be a relief. I like your container garden a lot! Will you add a bench or a couple of chairs?
Hello, everyone! Thanks to all of you who have stopped by and left a comment. Jason, you asked if I would add a bench or a couple of chairs. You can't see it in the views I showed on this post, but a small path leads from the "pot garden" to a small bench and then on to a larger sitting area with two chairs. So I have already adopted your ideas! Have a great week! Deb