Ginkgo update

According to everything I've read Ginkgo biloba trees lose their autumn leaves all at once in a magical golden shower.

That has not been my experience. The top branches go first as you can see in this photo taken through the living room window last week.

Then our tree slowly loses leaves here and there along the lower branches. You can see how some branches are almost bare and others completely full.

A heavy rain or windstorm will speed the process but we haven't had either one. So our Ginkgo put on a long show, its buttery yellow leaves drawing your attention even as it was slowly denuded.

The quirkiness of the Ginkgo leaf loss can easily be seen in this dwarf Ginkgo 'Marieken'. One branch stayed green and held its leaves long after the rest of the tree was bare.

We finally had frost the last couple of nights and that put paid to the Ginkgo's display.

But the big surprise when I looked out the window this morning was the Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum'. It has put on a blindingly bright display for days. Last night's frost ended that in one fell swoop. This tree — not the Ginkgo — is the one that lost all its leaves at once!

Comments

[Erin @ The Impatient Gardener]

Sigh ... I suppose all good things must come to an end, but the fall display your trees have given you was amazing while it lasted. My 'Golden Spire' ginkgo is only now starting to turn color. I'm not sure what that's about. This extended autumn has been so lovely and in fact it's hanging on so long that it looks like I'll be gardening in December at this rate. Let's hope that snow holds off.

[Linda from Each Little World]

Erin — ​My philosophy is no snow till after Thanksgiving means the first winter hurdle is over. Then I begin to count the days of no snow until Christmas. I love a white Christmas but I would not mind missing it this year!

[rusty duck]

My red acer lost its leaves over two nights. Top half one night, bottom half the second. Most peculiar! Your fall colours have been wonderful.

[Liz]

Oh pretty! Our fall has been really strange too...and my willows still have most of their leaves while all the other trees have already lost all theirs. We had a hard frost a few weeks ago so that put an end to most of the fall color, but I am sure loving this warm weather while it lasts!

[frank]

How sad, I always liked that story about how the ginkgo loses all its leaves in one day! No big deal though, those colors are fantastic.

[Lisa at Greenbow]

Isn't it fun to watch what goes on in the garden. There is no telling what will happen next. I think it is part of the magic of the garden.

[Pam/Digging]

What beautiful leaves, no matter how long they last! Ours should start turning here in Austin in about another 3 weeks, although it will be the usual muted show.