Garden Bloggers Leaf Day: 10.15.09

What's blooming here in my Zone 5 Madison, Wisconsin garden? After weekend temperatures that went down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6.66 C), the answer is not much. The shock of the sudden cold sent the leaves of the Honey Locusts and Black Walnuts down in great gusts, while the Ginkgo leaves are limp but still hanging on. I can create a Ginkgo shower, however, by merely tapping a branch.

The landscape in the garden is still mainly green, though it's a bit hard to tell from these pictures. Here, the assorted Maples — Sugar, Silver, Manchurian and Tschonoskii — in front of the house have turned color along with the the Doublefile Viburnum (V. plicatum tomentosum 'Mariesi'). Still to come are the Dawn Redwoods, the Paperbark Maple, the Fothergilla and the lace leaf Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum dissectum 'viridis'). 

 

Indian Summer arrives after the first hard frost but it's nowhere to be seen. We've had little but cold days interspersed with all the rain that didn't come during the summer. Given that nothing this year — from snow and rainfall to summer temperatures — has followed what used to be an anticipated seasonal schedule, perhaps I'm waiting in vain for a show of brilliant fall color that's never going to arrive. I may have to content myself with the leaves that have colored up already and that are presented here for October Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, sponsored by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

 

For those of you interested in tree id's, here they are: Photo No. 1 is Acer triflorum (Three-flowered Maple backed by Korean Maple just beginning to color); No. 2 is a close-up of Acer pseudosieboldiana (Purplebloom or Korean Maple); No. 3 is a close-up of Three-flowered Maple with a big Sugar Maple behind and above it; No. 4 is a close-up of the leaves of Acer mandshuricum (Manchurian maple); No. 5 shows Sugar Maple leaves on the ground; No. 6 and 7 are Stewartia pseudocamillia (Japanese Stewartia) which colors beautifully even with a fair amount of shade.

To see what was blooming for last October's GBBD, click here.

Comments

[Barbara H.]

Beautiful, Linda!

[Liisa]

Such gorgeous fall color! Your place looks ready for Halloween. FYI, your post title made me laugh out loud for certain.

[Gayle Madwin]

Flowers or not, your garden is still awfully pretty!

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Barbara and Liisa. I just stayed up late enough for Carol to post and me to be able to make a link. Now I can go to bed since I've visited the other early posters!

[Pam/Digging]

This is not already brilliant fall color? It certainly is by central Texas standards. Who needs fall flowers when your trees go out like a bonfire every year? Beautiful!

[Xan Nelson]

This falls under the category "Wish I'd Thought of That!" Leaf day is a very clever take on Bloom Day! And your pictures are beautiful!

[Bonnie]

Breathtaking color! I just wish we could have that fall color down in TX.

[Mr. McGregor's Daughter]

I think we're out of luck this year for fall color, or, to put it another way, this is as good as it gets. At least you have quite a few brilliantly colored trees. Love the Stewartia - I'm going to have to find room for at least one of those.

[Jean]

Linda, I think what you have right now is gorgeous. Just remember how beautiful it looks to us southerners! But you're right, it's been one weird season after another this year.

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Thanks for all your comments. I admit we did some selective shooting so you don't see the trees that have limp green leaves that won't color up this year. But what we do have is pretty gorgeous — especially in this greenish rainy light. MMD — the Stewartia is a great tree with really marvelous fall color. One of my favorites.

[Nicola]

Looks like pretty good fall colour to me! I love the names of the trees - ginko, sugar maple, redwood etc.

[Gail]

Flowers are transient but trees, their structure, the bark and hopefully for a little while their leaves sure are perfect! I agree with Jean! Your garden looks beautiful to my southernized eyes. gail

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

We in the North are so used to fall color — and we count on it as our right for having to put up with winter and snow — that I forget sometimes that it doesn't happen everywhere.

[Lisa at Greeenbow]

I giggled at the thought of you out there tapping on the ginko tree to see those bright yellow leaves spinning their way to the ground. Happy GBBD.

[Hilery - Desert Greenhouse Guide]

I am always so envious of fall color. Here in Southern Nevada, it seems like leaves go from green to on the ground. Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos!

[Dreamybee]

I love all your fall colors! That is one thing that I do miss, living in Hawaii-we never really have a spring or a fall. (Not that I'm complaining).

I always thought ginkgos were the coolest trees, but I've never actually lived where there were any. Are they very messy-fruit, seeds, flowers, etc.?

[Jan]

Some fantastic autumn colours here!

[HappyMouffetard]

Absolutely beautiful autumn colours :-)

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Thanks for all your comments! As for Ginkgo fruits, only the female trees fruit so you just have to be sure to buy a male tree and then there's no problem.

[Yvonne]

Fabulous pictures of the colour and form of leaves - no need for blooms! Thank you for visiting my blog - I only just found your comment. Such diversity in the gardening world - isn't it wonderful?!
Yvonne