Fall Through the Lens

One reason I enjoy photography is its ability to encapsulate a picture. Photography forces me to see what I am looking at and to put boundaries on the view. Otherwise the periphery runs on forever, often taking away from the immediate outlook. It is fun to focus on an image through the lens. Japanese maples are a reliable source of color from October through November.Here are some recent shorts taken late in the afternoon when low autumn light ignited the foliage. A lot of color comes from Japanese maples, dogwoods, hickory and oak trees, as well as various shrubs. Evergreens set off the explosion of color. Enjoy!Autumn creates a tapestry of colors in my garden.

The colors across the front garden in November are wonderful.

Sango kaku, also called Coral Bark maple is particularly lovely in fall when the orange-red leaves become flushed with pink and the coral stems become prominent. The colorful stems are also beautiful in the winter landscape. The name "Sango kaku" means coral tower.

I recently moved the concrete bench to a new location in the woodland garden. The shrub next to it is a Carolina allspice.The yellow leaves in these two shots belong to a hickory tree.

Juniper 'Saybrook Gold' frames the view toward the woodlands from our drive.This is a view of dogwoods edging the lower front lawn.A fallen oak leaf on left and Chinese Pistache leaves on the right.

Oakleaf hydrangeas are noted for their fall colors.

A section of a glass wind chime glimmers against fall foliage.

A hosta is lovely even as it goes into dormancy.

This old brown birdhouse awaits its new tenants next spring.

The dried seed heads of a Limelight hydrangea will remain through most of the winter.

This colorful Japanese maple is in front of our dining room window.

The strong limbs of an oak tree rise behind a Japanese maple.

By the time I had wandered around and taken all of the above photos, plus many more I am not showing you, it was late in the day and I was quite chilly! One last image caught my attention. I looked up to see smoke coming from the chimney.

Time to go inside and enjoy the warm fire!

Invite Fairies into Your Garden

Do you believe in fairies? Do you want them in your garden?My friend Ginger invited me into the fairyland she has created. Fairies will feel welcomed to her special garden that has something to please every fairy taste.

This adorable cottage will appeal to many fairies:
For fairies with wanderlust, how about a couple of cute camper trailers:

Nothing like a nice campfire at the end of a great day of exploring:There is a fabulous farm for those fairies who want to grow crops:Some fairies may prefer beachside living:

A door to an abode inside a tree will appeal to traditionalists:For naturalists, there is a pumpkin house:and a gourd house:Some wicked fairies may like this spooky house with attached graveyard:Other fairies are sure to go to church on Sundays:There is a hunting lodge:There are hayrides for the children:And a wise old man to read them stories:We must never forget our tailgating Alabama football fans. Roll Tide!These miniature landscapes are fascinating, and one needs time to study all the details. Fairy gardening is the perfect hobby for gardeners who also love dollhouses. Be aware, however, that you may get some mysterious guests. Ginger has had some of her fairy gardens rearranged, and a couple of farmyard haystacks completely disappeared. She blames the squirrels, but surely it is the fairies!

Ginger gets most of her fairy gardening supplies from Myers Plants and Pottery in Pelham, Alabama.