Glorious Autumn Light

I almost missed it. The day was old, and I was busy. I had not been out to walk in my garden or to take photos, as I like to do. I already had plenty of fall photographs. I wasn't planning to publish another post featuring autumn colors. So I was tempted to skip my afternoon stroll.

But I never know what I will see out there, and I like to take pictures for my own use. A good shot will often point out gaps and errors in the garden. My eye sees the big sweep of things and can miss details picked up by the camera. If I look at a photo and decide I can't use it on my blog because item X is spoiling the shot, I know I need to do something about item X. So I grabbed my camera and hurried out before the sun set. 

I was stunned. Overnight the fall foliage had intensified. Golden light was glittering over the leaves, and I was looking at a stained glass wonder of colors. Was this my garden?

I walked to the wooded area down from the patio. This year I added an arbor to the entrance of the Lady Garden, and I noticed that it was the perfect frame for the wondrous fall foliage:

I took these shots in and around the hydrangea walk, adjacent to the Lady Garden:

Some photos in the woodland garden:

More trees: The blue coloring of  Deodar cedar 'Feelin' Blue' is especially vivid this time of year. The brilliant yellow tree is a Japanese maple, which once upon a time was an unnamed seedling:

And a few closer shots:

Top: Heuchera leaf. 2nd row: Japanese maple. 3rd row: White pine; Japanese maple 'Waterfall'. 4th row: Hydrangea 'Lady in red'; Variegated Solomon's Seal.

The glory of the autumn light renewed my spirit and my energy. I am humbled to think I almost let the stress of a busy day steal this gift from me.

May each day offer blessings to you, and may you find time to receive them.     Deborah

Autumn Lights

When I published my last post, About Trees, I thought that would be it for fall. Then later this week I walked outside just as late afternoon sun rays were shining through the trees. The golden light from heaven took my breath away, and I grabbed my camera, hoping I could capture the mood. The autumn radiance lasted only about thirty minutes, long enough for me to get the following photos. Enjoy!

An old oak tree behind my house:

The dogwood at the entrance to the woodland garden:

These dogwood leaves remind me of stained glass:

I love the pattern of these tree branches:

Nandina in the woodlands:

A Japanese maple drapes over a woodland path:

Feelin' Blue weeping deodar cedar against a soft background of autumn colors:

Golden light washes over the blue bridge in the woodland garden:
 Another woodland view:

The structure of a weeping cherry stands out against  a background of fall colors:

More trees! Will I ever be tired of trees?? Probably not! Here's some tall ones:

I suspect that within a week all these gorgeous fall leaves will be brown and on the ground. Then I'll have to do a post on raking. 

Happy Fall to all!