With so many eye-catching Christmas posts out there, I thought I’d reflect on saying goodbye to autumn. Autumn is my second favorite season, after spring. It signals an end to the long dog days of summer. It’s a season where everything transforms in the garden. The season also known as “fall” in North America, is a time of year when the deciduous trees shed their leaves, but not before displaying a fiery exhibit which illuminates the sky.
When the leaves peaked around us, I grabbed my camera and took a walk, hoping to capture nature in all its glory. Every year, we are blessed with a palate of autumn colors in our neighborhood. Just as you think you’ve seen it all, you turn the corner and are wowed by another breathtaking sight. Come along with me on this pictorial journey capturing all the beauty around us.
So why do leaves really change color? The mixture of red, purple, orange and yellow is the result of chemical processes that take place in the tree as the seasons change from summer to winter as is evident in the photo above. In the fall, because of changes in the length of daylight and changes in temperature, the leaves stop their food-making process. The chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and the yellow to orange colors become visible and give the leaves part of their fall splendor.
Homes adorned with pumpkins and chrysanthemums grace front porches around this time of year.
A row of Japanese Ginkgo line this street. The unique fan-shaped leaves are striking when they fall, creating an ocean of yellow. But these trees also drop the seeds around the same time which when stepped on produces a putrid odor.
Maple leaves provide brilliant hues of red and orange.
The lacy Japanese maple, (left bottom) with its gnarly trunk and branches is a show-stopper every year. I’ve seen people drive by just to get a glimpse of this beauty. The Falls and river is also a short walk from where we live. Mallard ducks and Canada geese enjoy the views too. The winterberry bush on the (top right) makes a dramatic statement in the landscape. The leaves turn yellow and fall, exposing the showiness of the berries on the stark branches.
The sun was shining at just the right angle when I clicked this shot.
Temperature, light, and water supply have an influence on the views and the duration of fall color. Low temperatures above freezing will favor bright reds in maples. However, early frost will weaken the brilliant red color. Rainy and/or overcast days tend to increase the intensity of fall colors. The best time to enjoy the autumn color would be on a clear, dry, and cool (not freezing) day.
And now we await the first snowfall 🙂 I love the seasons in this part of the world. What is it like where you are at the moment?
Beautiful photos! Wish I was there to see the colours in real life.
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Thanks so much. You’ve got to see it to believe it 🙂 Happy Holidays!
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The photos are all wonderful but the first tree is a real show stopper. Not only it’s brilliant foliage but the shape of the tree itself. I enjoyed celebrating fall when we lived in New Hampshire and your post brought back nice memories. Lovely post.
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Thanks so much Karen. I’ll bet fall in New Hampshire was a sight to see. It gets better the further up north you go. I’m sure glad it brought back some memories for you. Now we await the first snowfall 🙂 Happy Holidays to you!
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Loretta, thanks for the incredible fall photos. You really captured your neighborhood and all it’s beauty!😉
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Thanks so much. It truly was incredible, now we await the first snowfall 🙂 Happy Holidays.
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Happy Holidays to you and Merry Christmas if you celebrate.💗🎄☃️
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Such a beautiful post!! Love the gorgeous pics, Loretta! We don’t see much Fall colors here in the South 😦 I would have really enjoyed this:) Next year, I hope I can plan a trip up North 😀
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Thanks Freda, yes I recall when we lived in Texas, there wasn’t much change in color, but the further up north you go, it gets even better. I just love the four seasons in this part of the world. Now we await the first snowfall (NOT) 🙂 If you do plan a trip to my part of the world, be sure to stop in, we can enjoy some shakuti and sannas together (you can teach me to make sannas). Merry Christmas to you and your family Freda 🙂
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Sure 🙂 Merry Christmas to you and your family too, Loretta!
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You know how much I love autumn and it’s wonderful colours! Those beautiful oranges leaves are so gorgeous.
In the U.K. right now we are having really horribly mild weather, it’s drizzly and damp, and not how winter should be at all!!
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Thanks Elaine, surely a sight to behold, and the further up north you go, the colors are even more vibrant. Now we await the first snowfall of the year. I hope you and your family enjoy a beautiful Christmas 🙂
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Thank you so much, and to you xx
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I really enjoyed your Fall pictorial Loretta, especially with all this snow that is coming tomorrow. That Japanese Maple is beautiful! Lots of errands to run today before the big snowfall!!! Have a good weekend 🙂
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Thank you Judi, I enjoyed compiling that pictorial. Now we await the first snowfall – it seems like you’ve had yours already? I’m not a snow person myself, but love the first snowfall of the season and especially around Christmas. Have a Merry Christmas and best wishes in the New Year Judi.
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Loved the pictures Loretta…truly beautiful!
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Thanks so much Zeba. I hope you have a great holiday season. Looking forward to seeing you on the flip side with more creations 🙂
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Beautiful fall colors 🙂
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Thanks so much Nandini 🙂 I hope you and your family have a very blessed and merry Christmas. Any Goan sweets for the season? I’m going to try my hand at cheeselets for the first time.
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Oh wow… I used to love them when I was a kid. I tried for the first time Jujube’s will be posting the recipe tomorrow 🙂
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These are some beautiful autumn pictures. In my part of the world the barren branches of trees are covered in snow.
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Thanks so much Balvinder. We are awaiting the first snowfall. Just hope it happens around Christmas. Happy Holidays to you. 🙂
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I just loved that picture of the Japenese maple when I saw it. Just beautiful. I don’t wish time away, but I sure miss the weather that was great for walking. Hope you have a great holiday Loretta! I know your home will be decorated beautifully!
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Thank you Julie. So glad that your family will be around you for Christmas. We had both girls + boyfriend and other friends for Thanksgiving. So this year, one daughter headed to Nevada to spend Christmas with her bf’s family, the other will be home. It will be rather quiet here, but I’m ok with that. I’m sure you are busy baking up a storm. Another year of knowing your dear self, it’s been wonderful!
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I will be doing all of the cooking for both sides of my family this year Loretta. I’ll love having both my kids here though. Enjoy your holiday Loretta!
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Really beautiful photos of Autumn.
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Thanks so much 🙂
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An amazing post!! Beautiful capture. Wishing you a merry Christmas Loretta!!
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Thanks so much Sumith. I wish you the same, and a healthy and happy New Year.
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So so lovely Loretta.
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Thank you so much Teresa 🙂
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Loretta,How lucky are you to live in that neighborhood of fall splendor! So well captured my friend! That Japanese maple sure is a show stopper! Your photography is brilliant!
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Thanks Sandhya – I do always look forward to this season. I’m sure the colors are even more beautiful in MA as you are further up north.
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Though I have Spring fever at the moment, Fall is my favorite season. Lovely photos! ❤
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