Lean into the light

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Ornamental bamboo in the garden

The confused face of autumn

Here in the garden it is definitely autumn.   The deciduous trees are dropping leaves or are about to begin that process.  The blazing Japanese Maple (acer palmatum sango kaku, Carol-bark maple) has all but finished its stunning display and the last leaves are falling.

However next to the tree is Feijoa Bambina which has three poor sized fruit on it, after a stunning flowering period in spring.   It mistakenly thinks it is spring with this dramatic single flower appearing and other flower buds showing.

So much about gardening involves puzzlement and surprise.

Small things

“Again I resume the long
lesson: how small a thing
can be pleasing, how little
in this hard world it takes
to satisfy the mind
and bring it to its rest.”
— Wendell Berry (Sabbaths)

Wordless Wednesday

Playing with autumn light and colour

A new “smarty pants” camera means a lot of playing is needed to learn how it works and how to get satisfying results with it.

The Japanese Maple tree has provided me with a great subject to play around with on the camera.  I also love to explore light as I take photographs.

So some of these following images are taken with the sunlight behind me, some with the leaves backlit, others a wonderful example of the sheer beauty this tree has offered to us in the past fortnight.

The Japanese Maple tree’s magnificent colour display

Three days went by between these photos and the ones I posted in my previous post.  The colours on the tree had intensified dramatically.  The tree had become a visual treat of autumn blaze with some of the lower branches still holding to green.  It is easy to sit and enjoy the display being played out in front of our eyes and to wonder at the exact factors which have influenced such drama.

Autumn shows it hand.

We planted a Japanese maple in our garden almost 20 years ago and it offers delight during every season.  Spring and autumn are the most spectacular times for this tree to display its beauty.  We have not enjoyed settled weather at all this year until late April.  Since then we have had some splendid autumn weather and perhaps chilly nights, no wind and warm days account for the amazing colour display we have been enjoying.  Members of the household agree that this has been one of the very best displays we have seen on this tree.

These photos were taken on 25th April 2017 and show the branchlets turning fiery red but the leaves a mix of green and coloured.

Three days later I took some more photos.  Look out for these in my next post.

Which is my best side?

My friendly and brave Tui who featured in my blog post yesterday was also happy to show me various other poses.   I suspect the Tui was really on watch for intruders approaching the feeders but also for the small flying insects that they catch as part of their varied diet.

Up close and personal

The sugar water feeders were empty today and my friend here sat on the fence to alert me to his or her hunger.  My reward for coming out with new supplies was this Tui stayed still and allowed me to sneak very close to take some photos.