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!