Color my neighborhood

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.

img_8588So 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.

img_8578Homes adorned with pumpkins and chrysanthemums grace front porches around this time of year.

img_8718A 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.

img_8589The sun was shining at just the right angle when I clicked this shot.

img_8595Temperature, 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?

 

 

 

 

35 comments

  2. 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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    1. 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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    1. 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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  5. 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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    1. 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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    1. 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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    1. 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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  14. 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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  15. Pingback: Sunday Specials: ALiF in People is Just A Color – Looking For A Lovely imaginary Friend?

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