Friday, October 18, 2013

All the Colors of Fall: Autumn Garden 2013 at its Peak

Fall Garden Color 2013
This fall is showing one of the most beautiful displays of color I have seen in years. This must be attributed to the combination of steady temperatures that have been holding in the upper 60's and low 70's with beautiful blue skies, relatively dry days and the lack of significant wind to bring the leaves down. The fall foliage is brilliant with color. As I was driving home at dusk I was in awe of how the colors were intensified by the light and I knew I had a limited window to capture some quick photographs.  I managed to get outside with my camera just in time right before the sun set. It seemed like the colors of the foliage reached peak almost overnight and I didn't want to lose the moment but rather catch the moment in time. 
Here are a few quick photos of the changing fall colors. Here is Astilbe and Stachys (Lamb's Ear).
 The fiery orange-red of this Spirea 'Gold Flame' has reached peak and is living up to its name.
Here is another view of the The Lamb's Ear which suddenly looks brighter and more pronounced in front of the Astilbe.  The colors have intensified dramatically.
As the sun was starting to set I took these photos of the Knock Out Roses and Butterfly Bush.  I just took photos of these a couple of days ago for Bloom Day in bright sunlight but there is something magical about the lighting just before sundown that makes the colors come alive.
There was no breeze to mention so I was able to capture the Yaku Jima grasses standing tall in the calm of the evening.
Standing out in my front yard gazing down the street  I could see an array of reds, oranges and shades of golden-green behind my Red and Green Japanese Maples...
and the autumn foliage of the Ash a bright yellow.  As the foliage turns hue and is destined to drop to the ground...
the beauty of nature is evident now. Enjoy the beauty of the fall season.
 
“Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.”

William Cullen Bryant
 
As Always...Happy Gardening and Happy Fall!
 

Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2013. All rights reserved
 
 

16 comments:

  1. Very nice Lee... We have some things which have colored up very well... On the other hand there are many trees that haven't changed a bit yet. Our freeze in the next few days will probably take care of that situation. Thanks for visiting my post and commenting... Larry

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    1. Hi Larry. We have not had a freeze either but when looking down the street all the maples are changing color yet I have trees (Crape Myrtle, Magnolia and Maple) that haven't turned at all yet. I probably should have called this post "Almost Peak" but I think I remember from last year that Hurricane Sandy wiped out our "peak season". Maybe there will just have to be another post "Part II"!

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  2. I love the astilbe/lambs' ears combination. These are two plants I have not put into my garden, but I can admire them when I see them.

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    1. Hi Jason. Thank you for visiting! The color contrast seems to get more intense day by day and I have gotten more enjoyment out of the Lamb' Ear than I could have imagined. It made its way into the garden when a customer long ago had offered me a small sampling. It has spread along the border to create this effect over time.

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  3. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I like the silvery touches in your garden- the ring of lamb's ears in front of the astilbe and the large shrub behind the burgundy barberry. (I am wondering what that shrub is? It's very dramatic!)

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    1. Thank you Jennifer. The blue colored weeping shrub to the left of (behind) the barberry that cascades like a waterfall is Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar. Behind that the taller green shrubs/trees are Western Arborvitae 'Virescens'. The Weeping Blue Atlas is one of my favorite conifers in the garden. I have two of them on the property and each one takes on its own personality of a shape. :)

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  4. This really has been a great autumn so far in the northeast. We had two bad years in '11 and '12 but this year is just what you show in your pictures -- rich and intense!

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    1. Yes...the storm last year really brought fall to an early end and I cannot remember before that but this has been a real nice show of colors so far. :)

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  5. Your fall colors are outstanding as are your combinations!!! WOW!!!! I have so much to learn from you! Thank you so much for popping by my blog...I am so excited to follow along with you on your journey! All the best this weekend!!!

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    1. I am so glad to have found you. I love the excitement in your writing and you are a reminder of a young me. I will enjoy visiting your blog regularly to follow in your adventures!

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  6. Lee wow what stunning foliage you have downstate. We are now past peak.

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  7. Hi Lee
    Everything is looking beautiful in your yard (especially the Yaku Jima grass) and even on your whole street. Autumn is truly a gorgeous season!!

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    1. Thank you Astrid. I never appreciated autumn as much as I do now. Recently retired from teaching in June and now always outside doing my designing there is a whole other world out there which I am certainly enjoying! :)

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  8. Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. It's nice to compare where we are in our gardens with other locations. Our fall colours have not been as vibrant as last year and there has been so much precipitation all summer. If this continues, we'll get a whole lot of snow!

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  9. Your fall garden is gorgeous, Lee. The colors weren't quite so bright here, but beautiful never-the-less. P. x

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Thank you for visiting. I love reading your comments and knowing you have been here, and will try to reciprocate on your blog. If you have any questions I will try my very best to answer them. As always...HAPPY GARDENING!