Leaves and Grass Abstract
Heatherwood Fall
Leaves and grasses
strewn about
magic image it creates.
Something magical sometimes appears when I put a camera to my eye. Physical objects of different colors, shapes, and textures flow together into an image that represents more of a feeling than their true identity.
“Neighbor’s Cherry Orchard”
Heatherwood Fall
Our neighbor’s cherry orchard provides a beautiful background for Heatherwood. It has seasonal interest throughout the year. Beautiful light pink blossoms welcome in spring. Lush green highlights the summer months. Striking orange-brown decorates the fall hillside. The snow covered trees provide a striking contrast in the winter. The orchard provides a nice place to take a walk throughout the year and provides a special sweet treat in July.
The orchard and hillside are a good example for “borrowed scenery” for Heatherwood’s Japanese garden. With the limited space in our garden, we wanted to make as much use of the surrounding hills borrowing their character and beauty. As we were laying out our garden paths and tree placements, we consciously identified surrounding areas that we wanted to highlight. We formed the path and placed trees to create framed scenes of the surrounding hills and valley below.
“Stream Side”
Heatherwood Fall
I can’t get enough of the beautiful fall color at Heatherwood. With all the guidance to stay at home during the accelerated expansion of Covid-19 cases, we are so lucky to be able to just step outside to partake in the beauty of autumn.
Along Heatherwood’s waterfalls, several Japanese Maples grace the stream bank. Their fall color frame the Kotoji lantern as well as the stream. They are young trees now, but over time will grow with their branches extending over the stream and waterfalls. After the final leaves fall, we will reluctantly shut down the stream’s water for the winter.
American White Birch
Heatherwood Fall
Two sets of American White Birch trees were planted by the previous owner of our property. They marked the southwest and southeast corners of the original landscaped area. A lot has changed in the last four years. Now they act as sentinels linking the upper and lower landscape areas. The birches provide much needed shade in the summer and stark beauty in the winter. Their fall foliage is interesting, but not as striking as the bright yellows of the European birch. However, they are better acclimated to our environment and much more disease resistant than their European cousins.
For both the small birch groves, we are planting understory shrubs, perennials, and ground covers. This will naturalize and smooth the transition between lawn and planting areas.
“Sunshine and Mist”
Heatherwood Fall
As I was writing my daily journal entry, I looked outside my office and saw the sun highlighting a distant hill. I quickly grabbed my camera and became immersed in the sunshine and mist. Tree leaves were glistening with droplets from the prior nights rain. Sun rays were highlighting Heatherwood’s trees and shrubs while a light fog was partially hiding the surrounding hills and valley. What a great way to start the day!
Two hours later I went in the house and had a wonderful breakfast/lunch. Then Mary and I went out for another walk around the garden, enjoying, feeling, and touching nature’s wonders.
“Fall Roses”
Heatherwood Fall
The roses are hanging on to their last burst of color. They have provided five months of beautiful enjoyment. It is now time for them to rest. The following is Mary’s perspective:
Fall Roses
As the end of the summer comes,
one last gasp of velvety red hangs quietly from the stem.
The season of roses gave us color and imagination
with every gaze of the thirteen rose bushes planted here two years ago.
Some made their way inside, but most lost their petals
in the summer winds and carpeted the ground with red, pink, yellow, and white.
Now the cold nights are here, and the fall sky grays dully
during the shortening days.
Here, two red blossoms hang on, sharing their last gasp of fragrant beauty,
delicate yet defiant of the nature of things.
The uncut rose hips signal a winter nap to get ready for next year’s bloom,
and their cycle reminds us of the ebb and flow.
Thank you, little roses, for teaching us that the difference
between the end and the beginning is simply a little time to get ready.
Mary Graf, 2020
Oak Leaf Hydrangea
Heatherwood Fall
Oak Leaf Hydrangeas are my favorites with their four season interest. In the spring, their dark green leafs unfurl. Summer brings out their beautiful conical flowers. Brilliant fall colors surround the faded brown blossoms in the autumn. In the winter most of the leaves drop leaving their exfoliating cinnamon-brown bark and their brown flower heads. A light dusting of snow highlights their beauty.
Heatherwood displays several Oak Leaf Hydrangeas throughout the garden, including a few in the Oak Grove.
Cherry Tree Silhouette Against Early Morning Sunrise
Heatherwood Fall
As I watched the sun rising, the cloudy sky turned a brilliant yellow orange. I just knew it was going to be a crisp beautiful autumn day. As soon as it got light enough, I grabbed my camera and went out to try to capture a feeling of the changing colors in our Heatherwood garden. I will follow up with some of the color I witnessed in my next several posts.