Tag Archives: Autumn

Well, It is Now Time…

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“Kotoji & Waterfall Ice”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

A couple more days with sub-freezing temperatures and the waterfall is freezing over. It is now time to turn the stream off before the water overflows the stream bed. It is an indicator for the garden to take its winter nap. It will be about 3 to 3 1/2 months before we start our spring clean-up and turn the water back on. Now is the time to rest and plan for the upcoming year. Weather permitting, we will continue our strolls through the garden, enjoying the winter garden color and contrasts.

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It’s Almost Time

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“Kotoji and Stream”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

We are entering the last month of autumn. Temperatures have dropped down into the teens at night. We have already had our first dusting of snow and are expecting a little flurry today. It’s almost time to turn the main waterfall off for the season. Every time I walk by our pond and waterfall this time of year, I say to myself that I should turn off the water. Then I think, one more week.

I love to gaze at our waterfall and listen to the sound of the water falling into the pond. I have a difficult time shutting the main stream down for the winter. We do keep our side stream going to help aerate the pond and keep it oxygenated for the fish. At least we have a little flow action and noise over the next 3-4 months. We turn the water back on when we start our spring clean-up in March.

So maybe, I will turn the waterfall off today … or not.

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Oak Leaves

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“Scarlet Oak”
Heatherwood Oak Grove

The autumn color on our scarlet oak just did not turn to the bright red as it has in past years. Just as the color started to change, we had a cold snap with temperatures dropping below 20 degrees. The color change stopped at orange. This fall has been quite different. Many of our trees still have green leaves while others have dropped all their leaves. Some of our maples are half red and half green. I think the trees are all mixed up.

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The Sky Doesn’t Get Much Bluer

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‘Cherry Allee”
Heatherwood, Mid-Autumn

Our first light snow dusting is over. The sky is as blue as it can be. It’s a beautiful and crisp mid-autumn day. There is no better place to be than strolling through the garden.

The perennials in Mary’s “bright & shiny” garden are spent, but still have a hint of their summer color. Their textures and shapes still provide a lot of interest. I don’t have the heart to cut them back. Besides, the spent flower heads leave seeds for the birds as well as spread seeds to make a fuller garden for next year. I will wait until early spring to cut them back.

The leaves on the Pink Flair cherries are turning to their dark red mid-autumn color. It won’t be too long before the branches will be bare. Winter is not too far away.

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Snow Contrast

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“Snow Dusted”
Heatherwood Meadow

A light dusting of snow amplifies the contrast of textures in our garden’s meadow. The shapes of the spent flowers and leaves pop out. The oranges, golds, and browns of the grasses are framed by the white of the snow dusting. The bright green of the lawn grass in hidden providing a contrast to the meadow areas.

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Here and Gone

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“First Snowfall of the Season”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

I woke up on Election Day to see a few snowflakes fall. I sat in my office gazing out the window watching the snow start to collect on the ground. I had a quick cup of coffee, grabbed my camera, and took a jaunt in the garden. The snow continued to fall for about 30 minutes while I was outside. By the time I finished it had already started to melt. After a bowl of cereal, I looked outside and the snow was gone.

Even a little dusting of snow changes the feeling of the garden. Some plants really pop out, while other small ground covers become quickly hidden. I enjoy trying to catch small changes in the garden. They brighten my days!

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More Change to Come

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“Rock Garden”
Heatherwood Autumn

Heatherwood’s rock garden is full of color now. But, it will go through more color change as fall progresses into winter. The leaves of the deciduous shrubs will fall exposing bright red dogwood branches and purple elderberry and nine bark branches. Some of the conical shaped shrubs will turn from green to golden bronze. Other conifers will turn to yellow. The ice plant ground covers will turn to a bright orange while some of the thymes will turn yellow. The blues and dark greens of other conifers will provide a subtle contrast. There is much more to come!

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Time to Shut Off the Waterfall???

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“Japanese Garden Waterfall Hillside”
Heatherwood Autumn

This week Heatherwood seems to be at its peak in color. The temperatures are dropping below freezing at night. Leaves are rapidly falling. Small patches of ice have formed at the edges of the waterfall. Is it time to turn off the water to the main falls and prepare the pond for winter?

Nah, I think I can wait a few more days until all the leaves have dropped. It is still just too beautiful to turn off.

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