Thanks (as usual) to Nan at Gardening Gone Wild for hosting this month’s workshop.
Fall in the garden is horribly underrated.
Here in the Northeast, we take for granted the foliar onslaught that draws tourists from around the world to see what a temperate deciduous forest does naturally as winter approaches.
While some gardeners whine about the lack of interest as fall approaches, I revel in the occasional success of my own devices and ingenuity — if you can call it that. Wasn’t I smart to plant those ornamental grasses? Don’t the bittersweet berries brighten up the fog? That hybrid hazelnut colors up so well, doesn’t it?
But mostly, the attraction of the fall garden here is that nature takes over. From the broad swaths of goldenrod in late August through the first frosts to the last of the October color, the highlights here are not of my own making.
This place was breathtaking in fall long before I came here, and will be breathtaking after I’m gone.
Fall scene a few years ago.
Fred runs by the ridge.
Bittersweet berries and borrowed scenery.
Ligularia seedhead.
Color on campus: ivy on concrete outside the bookstore …
… Libe slope …
… and Japanese maple outside Plant Science Building.
Favorite fall flower: Japanes anemones.
Frost on Asian pear.
Pitcher plant in the water garden.
Polygonatum odoratum variegatum turning.
September bloom day scan.
Frost on grasses, joe-pye weed, veggie garden fence.
Grasses in the morning light.
September morn’.
Stunning photos all of them, but I especially like the Boston Ivy on the concrete, the pitcher plants and of course Fred.
I have always come to think of fall as another spring only with a different palette and with the color progression in reverse.
Beautiful pictures as usual! The ivy on the wall, the huge yellow tree, the frost in the garden–all lovely. That’s not this year’s frost though, is it?
Brrrrrr that frost makes me feel chilly just seeing it. It certainly is beautiful where you are in fall. Fred in his black and white suit sure stands out in the garden this time of year.
You do live in a beautiful, scenic place. It must be hard to concentrate on the garden with all that color clamoring for attention beyond the borders. But don’t sell your own efforts short, your grasses are just wonderful.
MMD: Let’s just say that when fall comes, nature’s colors distract from my own shortcomings as a gardener.
I like the way you think Les. Fred’s black and white does turn into camouflage as we move into winter.
Oustanding images of autumn splendor, Craig! The light, the frost, and the flowers are all absolutely lovely. And the image of the Boston ivy – that’s pure art.
Fall is the best season, even though this year I am particularly sad–finall got the garden growing up and into itself. Still, fall and winter are exciting to see the bones, to see what you did so that, on a snowy evening in December, the garden walk is almost as pleasant as it was in June. Plus, it’s a time to revel in the negative space, to make sure the balance is right come spring. Lovely time.
Beautiful fall pics..I love that red Ivy..very scenic place
Stunning images! These make me miss autumn further (quite a bit further) north – I remember in Michigan, walking outside after an early frost – the landscape was simply magical. Thanks for the reminder…
And in the absence of red maples and anemones – this is still my favorite season.
Beautiful.
Some nice pics, I especially liked the red ivy on concrete and September morn’.
Things are a little backwards – I haven’t seen a frost yet and I live about as far north as you can get in NY 🙂