Love a leaf, Love Life

"Anyone can love a rose, but it takes a great deal to love a leaf. It's ordinary to love the beautiful, but it's beautiful to love the ordinary."  - Unknown

I came across this quote, and it expressed what is close to my heart. If one can love the common things, life will be full of riches; and to see the beauty in a leaf is to be open to the magnificence of the Creation.

The most amazing thing happened this past week. September 23 was the first official day of autumn, and when I opened the door that morning, autumn had arrived! When does the weather ever follow the calendar around here? September 22 was hot and humid and still decidedly summer, but a storm that night blew summer away and deposited autumn in its place. I walk around in a reverie, breathing in the fresh air and watching leaves turn before my eyes.

Dogwoods (Cornus florida) are among the first trees to start turning:

Alabama croton is a rare native plant with very interesting leaves:

Hydrangea ''Lady in Red' is noted for its red stems and lovely flowers, but it also has striking fall foliage:

Acuba japonica 'Variegata' adds spots of color to shady places:

Pieris japonica 'Cavantine' is putting on a pretty flush of new growth:

I love just about all variegated plants, including this variegated holly fern:

Another plant with wonderful variegated leaves is Hydrangea macrophylla 'Variegata':Years ago I planted a rhododendron in the woodland garden. I admire the large deep green leaves and like the shrub's structural presence, so I was not terribly disappointed when it did not bloom. But, look! This year it is producing buds! I guess it just needed time to grow up. I long ago forgot what color the flowers should be. I look forward to a spring surprise:

Euonymus americanus, otherwise called American Strawberry Bush and (my favorite) Hearts-a-bustin, has lovely fall foliage that becomes translucent white, washed with tints of gold and pink. Its fruit in this image is not quite ripe:

Tamopan persimmons have not yet ripened to deep orange, but the tree's large leaves are quite remarkable, especially as they being to turn.Some hungry bug apparently appreciates the leaves even more than I do!

This is the first Tamopan persimmon leaf beginning to assume its fall colors.I love individual leaves, and I also love how myriads of leaves blend together to create tapestries like the following views of the front garden:

With all these leaves, my life is truly rich. But just wait till they all start falling. We will be knee deep in treasure! 

Early October Images

Today the sky is bright blue, and the air is cool. Summer is gone.I watched dark clouds yesterday, first faint on the horizon, then gathering power and rolling toward us, until at last they poured out much needed rain and forcefully pushed away the last high temperatures of the year. This morning I breathed in the fresh air and reveled in the low humidity and chill breezes. Autumn is only peeking at us and blushing a bit now, but the next few weeks should bring some wonderful color transformations as the season displays its full glory. Meanwhile, Lou is already busy raking leaves.a sampling of autumn leaves
This skinny squirrel is probably watching, not leaves, but all the acorns falling from the trees! Maybe they will fatten him up!

Here are a few early fall scenes around the garden:

Tropicana canna Lily is noted for its outstanding foliage and fiery blooms, but I am also impressed with its seed pods.

This seed pod is from a Southern Magnolia tree.

There are still some flowers blooming in early October. Most of these will bloom until frost:Counterclockwise from top left: Spider lily; Purple Sage; Autumn Sage; Red Cascade rose; Hardy Morning Glory; Wild ageratum; Plectranthus; Penelope rose.

October blessings to you all; have a great week!    Deborah