Good Excuse For Raking

Last week I stood with the breeze on my face, feeling a hint of cold weather yet to come. Autumn is increasingly glorious, but I am seeing more leaves falling. Poor Lou. He is out there with the rake. Because my recovery from hip surgery is very slow, I can't help him, except to give him moral support and to remind him how much fun he is having. He came in yesterday to report he had all the leaves raked off the lawns and paths. I looked through the window at the leaves showering down behind him and laughed.

In fact, we have LOTS of trees, and raking is one chore that won't be finished till almost spring. So we (he) may as well enjoy it!

Being outside is good reward for raking or any other gardening activity these days. Just look at what is happening around our garden. All of the following photos were taken in the past week:

Here are closer views of some of the colorful foliage:
Clockwise from top left: Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku', also called coral bark maple; Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium'; red stems of coral bark maple; forsythia foliage.

Clockwise from top left: Acer japonicum 'Waterfall'; Acer palmatum dissectum 'Viridis'; Native Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis; Granddaddy longlegs watching me take photos; Acer japonicum 'Vitifolium'; Also Vitifolium, photo taken from same tree as previous.

Clockwise from top left: Native Hickory tree; Pinus strobus, Eastern white pine tree; Hosta 'Empress Wu'; Seed pods from Hosta 'Francis Williams'; Francis Williams; Fothergilla.

Below are some pumpkins and ghords in my front planter:

Finally, here are a few more images from around the garden, starting with a few of those leaves Lou has been raking! 

May you enjoy all that this season has to offer! 

Autumn Leaves and Other Things I Love

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:

These mums beside the parking court have spread from a single plant, purchased long ago from a grocery store. They are just beginning to open their blooms. Nandina 'Firepower' grows in front.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