… comes in many forms:
from a barberry shrub that’s still retaining its leaves …
… to one that’s without …
… or to a pink-hued late autumn sky.
The radiance of finality is both bitter and sweet; nature’s reclamation of what was never ours in the first place.
A fresh green tree canopy provides a pretty addition to the foot bridge over Penticton Creek in June …
… but five months further on …
… the same trees are dropping their lovely yellow leaves into the creek and on the pathways …
… in greater and greater numbers until bare branches dominate.
Happy Thursday.
A scarlet-red lace leaf maple …
… an evening glow through leaves …
… sun-tinted lazy clouds …
… and a multitude of colourful foliage that’s lending beauty to our roads and sidewalks and footpaths …
… but that will soon be all gone until next year.
Beautiful November sightings.
I’m betting that you’re definitely not, but here are some autumnal oranges that might provide you with a little flare to help you get through that nasty first day of the working week.
A beautiful big leaf maple (acer macrophyllum) glows with coppery colour …
… while the Japanese maple (acer palmatum) with its delicate leaves displays a delicate terra cotta hue to match.
A larger photo of the Japanese maple shows that some of its leaves are red or reddish; that’s because its leaves turn that colour first before gradually fading to orange.
And here are three Japanese maples showing a gorgeous – and reflective – reddish-orange.
Even though it’s Monday and can’t be avoided, I hope you have a good one.
Cheers.
Barberry can show an interesting autumn colour palette. Some shrubs turn a uniformly scarlet red while others develop multi-hued leaves.
I love the mixture of red, pink, yellow and green shown here but barberry can also be quite purplish as you can see from the featured photo.
I always wish that autumn could last a bit longer so that we could really take in the colours but of course we humans in that case probably wouldn’t enjoy it as much!
I find these red-speckled autumn barberry leaves lovely. They’re decaying, but they’re displaying so much beauty, too.
A faded ginkgo biloba leaf is caught in the barberry shrub, making for a lovely colour counterpoint.
Happy Sunday.
… yellow!
The autumn reds and oranges often get much of the attention during autumn but the overlooked yellows are often beautiful, too.
Lemony yellow gingko biloba leaves …
… and the whole tree. Once the gingko leaves turn, they don’t last long.
As I’ve indicated here before, I love the shape of the leaves; that beautiful fan shape is almost like a petal.
A beautiful yellow honey locust canopy …
… cottonwoods …
… big leaf maples with their lovely large leaves – almost large enough for rain protection – and a few more of them …
… still hanging on …
… and on the ground.
Have a happily yellow Wednesday.
Not far from my home is a lovely Japanese friendship garden; Penticton has been a sister city with Ikeda, Japan – located in the Nakagawa District of Tokachi in Hokkaido – since 1977 and this garden is in honour of that relationship. I frequently walk through it as I like to see ongoing seasonal changes and it’s also a very comforting, peaceful place.
There are tranquil paths …
… a koi pond with a fountain …
… and best of all, it was painstakingly and artistically planned to ensure that it would be visually appealing all through the seasons.
Spring petals decorating the pond’s surface …
… and autumn leaves doing the same.
The garden abuts Okanagan Lake which even in summer can be seen through the trees and contributes further to the soothing atmosphere.
In winter, this garden is still serene and relaxing. If it’s warm enough, a little time on one of the benches can be a lovely way to decompress.
Right now however it’s displaying the best of autumn, including the fiery red lace leaf maple bushes that are at their most beautiful.
Happy Tuesday.
This sugar maple tree has turned a very classic shade of red.
Since it’s the sugar maple leaf that’s on our flag, I would say that this tree is a rather iconic representation of Canadiana.
Besides gorgeous red leaves in autumn and beautiful lumber, the sugar maples are also known for producing another icon – maple syrup.
I grew up with it and have always enjoyed that luscious sweetness in cookies, cakes and on or in many other things, too.
Sugar maples provide us with so much, both practically and aesthetically, but at the moment, I’m enjoying the amazing gift of this stunningly gorgeous autumn colour.
Happy first Monday of November.
An autumn bridge crosses through yellowing cottonwood trees …
… as a distant half-moon gazes impassively on.
Happy Saturday.
If you do, here’s what you might see.
Whomever or wherever you are, try to add a quiet moment to your day. 🍂
In the Net! - Pictures and Stories of Life 