Tuesday 30 October 2012

Changing seasons

We had our first flurry of snow on Saturday, and the clocks went back on Sunday morning, so I think we have to admit that Autumn is inexorably giving way to Winter. I think our seasons have "slipped" a bit in recent years. We often get what I think of as "September weather" in October / November these days, and Spring seems to start later too.

Right now the colour on some of the trees and shrubs is at its best, like this Blueberry bush, whose leaves are a real fiery red this year. Often they are a more muted "Burgundy" sort of colour.

Blueberry
 Blueberries are particularly rewarding plants to grow, because they give you wonderful Autumn foliage as well as delicious Summer fruits. They respond well to being kept in pots, so they are suitable for even the smallest of gardens.

Blueberry
 If you follow my blog regularly you won't need reminding that I love the Dogwoods too. In the Autumn they provide wonderful colour not only in their leaves, like this

Dogwood
But also in their snowy-white berries, like this

Dogwood
and then when the leaves and berries have fallen, you end up with stems in various shades of red, yellow and orange, like this:

Dogwood
 The Cotinus is shedding leaves rapidly:

Cotinus
 
Cotinus

Cotinus

You also know that one of my favourite photo subjects is "raindrops on leaves", don't you? Well, I've had plenty of opportunities for such shots recently, so here are a few examples:

Asparagus


Cotinus


Broccoli


Cavolo Nero
Just had a rather unwelcome thought: our Bronze Maple tree is shedding its leaves in profusion, which means I have the task of raking them up and disposing of them. Not something I enjoy. I have one of my plastic compost bins devoted to making Leaf Mould from those Maple leaves, but they do take a very long time to decompose, and even when they do the result is only useful as a mulch or soil-lightener because it doesn't contain much in the way of nutrients.

11 comments:

  1. Your garden must be wonderfully colourful.

    Snow!

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  2. My blueberries are shedding their leaves now, but I've also noticed how bright their autumn foliage was this year.

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  3. Crumbs, a real snow flurry already! Our blueberry leaves have been vivid too.

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  4. I love the first raindrop photo.

    Lots of gardeners run a lawn mower over dropped leaves to shred them for quicker composting but I don't suppose that's an option for you is it?

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  5. The weather is weird all over the world. When I moved to the Western Cape almost 30 years ago 30ºC was considered hot, now we have many summer days reaching close to 40ºC. Your autumn is giving many beautiful photo's anyway. so enjoy it.

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  6. I love the change of seasons. One of the most stunning changes I've seen is in a blueberry plant. Wonderful colours.

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  7. Yep climate change is having an impact. We've got 34 degrees today - early hot weather for spring.
    Like your raindrops pictures.
    Now if you were a messy gardener like me you'd just plonk those leaves straight on the garden some place to use as mulch and save yourself a lot of work!

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  8. Asparagus, raindrops with reflections a corker, a nice group of pictures Mark Olympus cameras and lenses very much under-rated in my opinion against Canon and Nikon offerings, they are excellent value for money the lenses particularly so.

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  9. I have finally got around to replacing my bluberry bushes which died a couple of winters ago - they really look great at this time of year but can't wait to start gathering some fruit next year, if I can get them before the blackbirds do.

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  10. Lovely Autumn color! And raindrops are pretty in any season!
    Have a wonderful day!
    Lea
    Lea's Menagerie

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  11. A few years back, I helped my mom choose a blueberry bush. All three of us - mom, dad and I, debated as to where to plant it. It was a "conversation" that lasted a good hour before, of course, my mom got her way. A year later, my dad accidentally mowed the baby bush. :( Good news is that my mom and I will get another chance to go blueberry shopping!

    Yours are beautiful, and I love your dogwood!

    Sincerely,
    Tina

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