Monday, October 20, 2008

Harvest Home and Fall Color

Harvest Home
by Arthur Guiterman

The maples flare among the spruces,
The bursting foxgrape spills its juices,
The gentians lift their sapphire fringes
On roadways rich with golden tinges,
The waddling woodchucks fill their hampers,
The deer mouse runs, the chipmunk scampers,
The squirrels scurry, never stopping,
For all they hear is apples dropping
And walnuts plumping fast and faster;
The bee weighs down the purple aster---
Yes, hive your honey, little hummer,
The woods are waving, "Farewell, Summer."


Every day brings just a little more change in the Fall colors. This is what we've been seeing this past week or so. :-)
Slight changes happening downtown...
(Oct. 8)
(Oct. 9)

You know, I always obey this sign...
but do you think it could use an exclamation point about this time of year? ;-)
(Oct. 9)

You will see these burning bushes from the front of the house
(with a couple of rhododendrons sandwiched in between).

The back side of the bush was pretty, too
especially contrasted with the green hostas
that seem to be hugging the ground.
(Oct. 14)
(Oct. 15) A cloudy day.
We are now looking up at our Shagbark Hickory
on the south (woodsy) side of the house.
(Oct. 14)

I'm enjoying this Fall weather. I've planted a few bulbs and will be happy to see the flowers next Spring! I have a few tulips to plant... just couldn't resist trying a few. I'll probably lay hardware cloth over the ground until Spring!! Perhaps that'll keep the rodents from digging down to them.

Hope you're enjoying this Autumn weather.
SG

14 comments:

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Aren't those big old maples gorgeous. They are dotted around our town too. Not only does their shade make town life bearable their fall color display is irreplacable.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Lisa, You're really right. I cannot imagine what it might be like to live in a town/city without trees to shade or shelter. Just as I cannot imagine Fall without their colorful display! :-) Thank you for your thoughtful comment.

Anonymous said...

It's definitely looking fallish there. Beautiful photos. I need to take some myself before the show is over. I have trouble keeping tulips planted too. If the squirrels don't get the bulbs, the rabbits eat the foliage in spring! This year I didn't buy any new ones, I decided to stick with Alliums, daffodils and such. Maybe I'll have better luck. I hope to see yours blooming on a blog post next spring. :-)

Gail said...

The trees are so beautiful in your town! How pleasant to drive around or walk around and see the maples resplendent in their fall outfits! We don't grow maples...they like moisture and we are shy of that all summer long! But I so enjoy yours!

gail

Shady Gardener said...

Kathleen, I'm definitely "taking a chance" by planting tulips. We have so many squirrels and striped gophers that dig and eat them. Hopefully they make it through the Winter! ;-)

Gail, You are right about how beautiful the Maples are. This Fall has been so beautiful. Periodically the weather doen't let the trees be as colorful (as it was last Fall). Glad you can enjoy them along with me! :-)

Pat said...

The colors look like orange sherbert and pink lemonade.
Very pretty.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Patsi, I smiled when I saw your comment. :-) Those sound like warm summer day treats (I'd throw in a cookie!) lol. How are things your way?

Anonymous said...

Thanks for foliage tour! Great poem, also. Here's hoping that Simon's Iowan cousins don't find those tulips. Folks utilize hardware cloth to foil squirrels around here, too.

Dreary and drizzly here today, with plummeting temperatures and rising wind... beginning to feel a lot like November. Good blog day! /Deb

Shady Gardener said...

Deb, Hi! It is not a pleasant day, today. It rained early this morning and is drab and in the 50's with a bit of wind. You're right. It feels like November. I DO have a little "outdoor house cleaning" yet to do, however!
I think it's supposed to be nice this coming weekend. Perhaps I can get things done, then. :-)

Andrea Dellit said...

GORGEOUS!!!!

missing you...thought about you last week and hope you are doing well. :)

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Dellits! I know, I haven't been "getting around" to visit lately. I miss you too, and hope you're both doing well! I know you were able to sneak to Iowa Quickly, but will you be back for any holidays? AK

Pat said...

Ok I have to ask !
Your name is "Shady"?
Give me a clue...

Anyway.
Guess What?
You've won an award !!!
Come by and pick it up.
I haven't seen this one before but what do I know.

troutbirder said...

The stop sign is perfectly placed!

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Patsi! No, my real name isn't Shady. It's a nickname I gave myself because 6 years ago we moved to this very wooded (shady) spot, and I've been learning to garden in the shade ever since! :-) My name is a fairly common one that begins with 'K." ;-)

Thanks for the award, Patsi. You were very sweet to think of me.

Troutbirder! Yea! I thought it was a great place for the sign, too! Thanks for the observative comment! :-)