The Outlaw Gardener: fall foliage

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Hope

Many of the leaves have fallen from the trees but there's still some beauty left on the ground.

So pretty, it's difficult not to love autumn!

This too will soon be just a memory.

Looking up, I saw the dogwood ready to shed it's leaves. Even as the dogwood prepares for dormancy, the buds for next springs flowers are visible. There's hope that the light will return and spring will come again.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

Emily Dickenson

Hold on to hope all, spring isn't that far off!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

A November Stroll in the Park

I pass Tacoma's Wright Park several times a day but seldom take the time to get out of the car and walk around. This park is the home of Seymour Conservatory about which I posted here. Now that the days are so short, it was a treat to see the park in the last few moments of daylight.

The park has some wonderful old specemins and the leaves are often raked into piles into which children of all ages may jump.

It's a relatively warm day for November, the air is still, and the fragrance of fallen maple leaves, the essence of autumn, fill my nostrils. (Or did a bug climb in there?) Anyway, it's nice. The park is clearing out as the light fades as it's not the safest place to be after dark so the only sounds are squirrels running through dry leaves, and water splashing in the pond.

Could these be the large red leaves of Loree's dream? Shocking red Hydrangea quercifolia foliage.

Somewhat more subued. A little wine will do that to anyone.

Part of the duck pond looking kind of cold.

I love our native snowberry. The berries stay long after the leaves fall & results in bare sticks holding up groups of these big berries for much of the winter.

Cursing that I didn't bring my telephoto lens, I thought of Deanne whose wildlife pictures are spectacular. I've explained that I try but am never successful as she because wildlife tends to move away when I start shouting directions at them - Hey you, butterlfy, land on this flower over here, Ms. Hummingbird, hover a little more to the left. Dammit Mr. Stellar's Jay, if you won't look at the camera, we're just going to call the whole thing off. Is that what you want? Would you squirrels puhleeeze just freeze in that cutesy pose? Deanne said something about waiting, patience or some virtue that I sorely lack.