Lean into the light

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.