The Golden Glow of Early Fall

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:

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!