Nature’s wheel just keeps spinning a colorful web this fall. The trees have been outstanding, with their leaves turning in earnest this week. I want to drink it all in while the show lasts.
Some of you asked to see “my” Copper Beech in her Autumn splendor. Her leaves are exhibiting their coppery rust, which makes it a striking companion to what I believe is an aspen. Copper and gold; such amazing tones in nature. Even in the rain – especially in the rain – the performance is spectacular this year. Yet again, I was exploring the Morton Arboretum on Wednesday. The path above was leading to the glass-blowing pumpkin extravaganza going on through the weekend. If you are in the area, you really should drop in to see the Glass Pumpkin Patch at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, and then absorb all the fall colors.
Leaf Peepers! That’s what we become in the fall. Leaf Peepers!
The path below wanders amid an arbor rainbow. I felt a bit like Dorothy on the Yellow Brick Road.
It doesn’t matter where paths wander in our midwestern fall ; just that we take the time to walk them, as this pair did in the Autumn mist.
Would you like to see some of the glass pumpkins? They are even better in person. Click on photos for a better look-see.
We went to Vermont on our first long RV trip — last century now! Specifically to be leaf-peepers … because Fall is our favorite season and of course we could never travel during that season until we retired. We loved that trip, wonderful memories. (And obviously, we could have stopped in the midwest instead — your trees are beautiful.) The thing about Oregon is — the season can be beautiful, but often the rain hits before the leaves turn much color. We are holding our breath this year. But it is good to be ‘home’ no matter what!!
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As lovely as our trees are here, Sallie, and they really are very vibrant here, Vermont’s are even more spectacular. We did some leaf-peeping, just at the turn of the century and it remains as a favorite trip. We went in October, it rained all but one day, yet our photographs were phenomenal and we loved every mile. The colors were like being dropped in candy corn – only sweeter. 😉 Thanks for triggering that memory. We often have the same issue of colors turning and then, poof, the weather turns and they are gone. We have rain right now, but, the leaves are still holding forth. A good year for peepers around here. Enjoy being “home”, dear Sallie. Oregon is on the ol’ bucket list.
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Beautiful photos, we are finally getting some colors here but still nothing very picture worthy. Not worth traipsing around in the mud to shoot.
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Thank you. We are really having a splendid show this year, after several years of “blah”. Stay out of the mud unless it is really worth. Ruined a pair of shows the other day. Sigh. Photos were worth it, though. 🙂
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That Arboretum is a beautiful resource, and those glass pumpkins are a different kind of beautiful! I thought I might like to have one, and then I blew up the photo and looked at one of the price tags….not so much. 🙂
The colors here in our neighborhood have really popped this past week, Penny, and our three burning bushes are really aflame. I don’t carry a cell phone, so that venue for snapping impromptu photos isn’t available. I need to get a camera expressly for keeping in the car. I so often see things when we’re out on an errand and wish I could get a photo. Thanks for sharing yours.
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They are beautiful, Karen, but, you are right. They are very pricey – and these are the smaller ones. I enjoyed looking at them – and watching the glass blower.
Oh, I would love to see those burning bushes, Karen. We had one outside of one of our living room windows in the old house and it was really “aflame” right about now. Enjoy yours. The leaves never lasted very long, but, while they did it was quite a treat.
I keep my camera with me in the car. I’m notorious for taking photos out of the car window – and get some odd looks. 🙂 My cell phone just doesn’t take as good photos. I’m surprised my camera still does as I’ve dropped it a few times and it held together with duct tape and rubber bands – but, it still does what I want it to. 🙂
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Our copper beech looks just like yours at the moment but we don’t have a wonderful aspen beside it to provide that amazing contast in colours. Gorgeous. I loved seeing it.
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I’ll just bet it is magnificent there, Cath. The copper beech is such a regal, sturdy tree. It really it is a favorite tree of mine. Thank you.
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Thank you, Penny. It’s in the seventies here. No color, other than a not-steamy-blue sky. I’m headed to NY in the morning, and I can’t wait. Four days with Cooper. And color. And cold.
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Safe travel, Andra, and enjoy your trip. I know you will have a good time with Cooper. NY should be having good color now, especially upstate. Hope you see some as you enjoy the brisk weather there. 🙂
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Your trees are a true symphony this year with all the harmonious colors. As Andra said, our trees are still green and it is warmish. Those glass pumpkins are spectacular and the prices match but would be totally worth the splurge!
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How beautifully you phrase it, Marilyn. It is so. I hope humidity isn’t part of the warm weather. They are a bit steep in price, especially the bigger ones, but the art of glass blowing is intricate, especially getting those pumpkin stems.
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Oh, what lovely photos. Many people have been taking beautiful photos around here too. I told Jim that I wanted to plant some trees that will have some good color in the fall. He said that we would have to have maples. Thank you for making the case for me. There are many pretty trees and not just maples, although they are pretty around here.
Now, those pumpkins are gorgeous! It would be hard to put them away to get out the Christmas decorations. They are beautiful.
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Thanks, Janet. Tom has been thinking the same thing. The boys rule on this one. I’d like to plant one near a large pine we have. The pines really help set off the color of trees. Maples are great for color and they grow pretty fast, so, are a good choice, and the sugar maples are gorgeous as they turn – and, of course, there is always the bonus of syrup one day.
Aren’t they splendid? Wish they weren’t so dear in price. I have a perfect, sun-catching spot. Enjoy the season, Janet.
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Leaf peepers – I like it! I can feel you rejoicing in the beauty of the season, and those glass pumpkins are delightful.
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Isn’t it a great descriptor, Juliet? Wish I could claim it as my own. I think it was coined in the east, as long lines of cars roam down country roads to see the trees. Here, we are having one of the most colorful falls in several years – and enjoying every leaf of it! (I won’t tell you how much raking needs to be done here. tee hee) They are delightful pumpkins – thousands of them. The sun is out today, so, they will be glowing in the light. 🙂
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I hope you had a good weekend, Penny. I actually read this post from my phone the other day while I was resting on a bench at the Huntington Library. I was going to read and take some time to myself, and I ended up mostly just sitting and staring. Everything in the garden is in such transition right now and just beautiful. I remember your Copper Beech from last year and it is again spectacular. You do have such deeply vibrant and striking colors in fall! And I love the glass pumpkins. They’re simply beautiful. Soon, we won’t have too much cold, perhaps, but the colors do go very drab. We just have to drink in the color while we can, right? 🙂
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It was very pleasant, Debra. Thanks for asking. Ahhhh, the Huntington. I can’t think of a better place to sit and stare and be. Sometimes, we need to be present in the moment, and it sounds like you were. Good for you. This is one of the most spectacular falls we have had in many years. Driving and walking through the colors is supreme joy right now. You are so right; drink in the color while we can.
Hope you weekend was a good one. 🙂
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You captured the Arboretum at its peak! I’ve been to their glass pumpkin sale and to be honest, there are so many gorgeous, creative pumpkins I have never been able to decide upon one to buy!
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It would be a very tough choice, for sure. Good thing I didn’t have any disposable income at the time. ha! I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed autumn there as much as I did this year.
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