A Walk in the Garden

Gardens are often full of nice autumn color. So, you may not need to drive very far to find it.

I took a 15 minute stroll through my garden this morning and captured these handheld images of autumn color in my yard.

Eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis, is a favorite garden tree of mine (not to be confused with western dogwood – a shrub). This tree is decorated with pink-lavender blossoms in springtime and yellow and lime heart-shaped leaves in autumn.

 

Pacific dogwood, Cornus nuttallii,  carry cream-colored bracts in springtime. Their flowers are yellow-green pod clusters that turn into bright red “drupes” in autumn. Dogwood leaves turn from kelly green to shades of maroon, rose, pink and gold during fall.

Chinese pistache, Pistacia chinensis, and American sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua are the most popular fall color trees planted in California gardens, because of their irridescent rainbow colors.  Pistache is particularly fluorescent with brilliant yellow, lime, orange, red and auburn filling its branches for nearly a month of color. It is most dramatic when planted in clusters.

The strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo, carries bright yellow, orange and red pods in autumn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are many subspecies of Japanese maple, Acer palmatum.  A deep red variety in my garden has bright red seed pods that spin and fly away when they drop from the tree.

Cut-leaf weeping birch, Betula pendula Dalecarlica,  have a delicately golden leaf that flutters and dangles.

A variety of climbing vines provide lovely color, texture and graphic form.

Even if you live in an apartment and don’t have a garden, nearby parks, botanic gardens and neighborhood gardens will be full of fall color upon closer look.

Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – El Dorado Hills (Sierra foothills suburb)