Early light

A fall morning

The early light cuts through the mist.

It's almost as if a window in heaven has opened

to give us a glimpse of the glory.

A Foggy Fall Morning

"For me, a landscape does not exist in its own right, since its appearance changes at every moment; but the surrounding atmosphere brings it to life - the light and the air which vary continually. For me, it is only the surrounding atmosphere which gives subjects their true value."

- Claude Monet

This morning the surrounding atmosphere was foggy, changing the light and making the hues of the dogwoods, sassafras, Japanese maples, Virginia creeper, and hydrangea especially vivid.  

The tree in the left corner is a Bradford Pear.  It's just beginning to turn.

Dogwood, willow oak, chestnut oak

Sassafras, Carolina Jessamine, and Virginia Creeper on the fence.

Dogwood, Japanese Maple, Sassafras

Another variety of Japanese Maple - much more colorful!

The blooms on this hydrangea are prettier now than they were in the Spring.

Chestnut oak leaves on winter rye grass

Dogwood and juniper

Sassafras

Gallardia

Coreopsis

Not a very good color combination, but who knew that the hanging basket would still be blooming
when the Virginia Creeper turned?

Such a contrast to the red of the other Japanese Maple.

The fall color changes by the day, sometimes by the hour.  Soon the dogwoods will be bare and the chestnut oaks will be fully turned. And too soon we'll be settling in to the winter months, brightening those early days with the bright colors of the holiday season.

I'm linking up with The Fall Color Project 2011, hosted by Dave at Growing the Home Garden.  Be sure to stop by to see more fall color from all over the United States.

A place to feed the soul

I was back at the family house on the lake this weekend - the second weekend in a row - 

and the fall color seemed to be at its peak. 

The morning light lit up the trees and the water.

This is the only time of year that diamonds appear to floating on the surface of the lake, 

and it can be mesmerizing.

The leaves from the surrounding trees float by, just under the surface of the water, 

and they, too, reflect the sun's rays.

We sat in the sun for much of the afternoon, enjoying the warmth and the peacefulness.  The lake was quiet, without the summer noise of boats and jet skis - though our neighbor in the cove brought out his jet ski just to charge the battery.  His constant companion always insists on going along for the ride. 

As the sun set we enjoyed wine and candlelight on the porch.

Later we watched as the planes lifted off from the airport across the lake.

This place feeds my soul, especially at this time of year.

Do you have a place that feeds your soul?

Warmed by autumn's fire - Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

Agastache

The November blooms are the colors of warm winter fires - 

shades of red, orange and gold 

glowing in the low autumn light.

Coreopsis

Lantana

Blanket flower

Hot lips salvia

  Black-eyed Susans continue to bloom on the deck, next to the violas and mums.  The geranium is blooming as it did in May, cozy in the pot with the euphorbia.  

With the trees overhead glowing with the same colors of red and gold, 

 the world outside my door is transformed.

The dogwoods are still holding on to their ruby leaves, though the chestnut oaks

 and sassafras are in a hurry to shed theirs.

Even the spirea has put on a multi-hued coat.

Each phase of the life cycle has its own beauty and its own personality.  Spring is birth, excitement, energy, and fresh color.  Summer is like the teenager - rambunctious and growing rapidly, bright and even gaudy.  But fall - it's the season I relate to.  Winding down, reflective, comforting and beautiful in an entirely different way. 

Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.  Head on over to see what's blooming in gardens all over the world.