October 16, 2014

Gathering sweet memories of October beauty

surprise2

During the past few days, I've been attempting to capture a few memories of this incredible October we're experiencing. Words seem insufficient to accurately describe it. So, here's a nearly wordless tour of my community's autumn color in no particular order:

three flower maple

tupelo

warnerpark

amsonia combo

apple serviceberry

arb maples

down street

green space 2

hornbeam

green space

japanese maple

lilac and maple

maple bluff

lilac maple2

oakleaf

maple

park

maple2

oaks

mountain ash

reflecting

surprise1

All photos were taken in Madison and McFarland, Wis. I'm linking in with Pam Penick's Foliage Follow-Up meme and Christina's Garden Bloggers Foliage Day meme. Head on over to their blogs to see fabulous foliage displays from around the world.

48 comments:

  1. Lovely images! I'm glad you are enjoying such a spectacular fall! Reminds me of the story of Frederick by Leo Lionni where a mouse savored all the images of fall to share during the winter when it was cold, food supplies short and all the other mice had cabin fever.
    We are still a few weeks away from that kind of color here but I am looking forward to it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, that's a good way to put it, Karin--I will try to remember this glorious fall in the depths of winter. Thank you. And thanks for your kind comments. :)

      Delete
    2. OMG someone else who is in love with Frederick! I keep it on my desk. Thank you, Karin, for bringing it here.

      Delete
    3. Hi Susie: I agree--Frederick is fun! And such a perfect comparison to what we do to try to "save" our beautiful gifts for leaner times. :)

      Delete
  2. Wow, that is fantastic Autumn colour ! So lovely! Is it a particularly good autumn for you, as regards foliage colour ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Every year, October amazes me with it's vibrant display in this part of the world. But, yes, I'm thinking this has been one of our most colorful autumns. Other people are mentioning it, too. Perhaps it's because the trees had plenty of moisture this year, or the fact that it's cool enough for everything to hold a bit longer, or possibly because we haven't hard a hard freeze yet, so flowers are still blooming, too. Probably a combination of factors, but it has been incredible.

      Delete
  3. Stunning autumn color! It seems fitting that the celebration that is summer ends with a giant fireworks show. I'm all for savoring fall but once December ends I'm ready for spring!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Yes, good point. It certainly does seem like we have fireworks going off all around us! And I totally agree with you regarding winter. I can take a little of it, but it does tend to drag on... ;-)

      Delete
  4. I hear the fat lady singing...determined to enjoy her final notes (with your help).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep. We're quickly moving to the "other side," but we might as well enjoy the incredible show while it lasts! :)

      Delete
  5. Hello there! Welcome to Minneapolis, and is it ever a gorgeous fall here! I see you are out there in Wisconsin and your colors are rimming the lakes with glorious color. Thank you so much for visiting and leaving a comment and yes, home is the heart. PEACE TO YOU!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anita: I imagine your fall is as lovely as ours this year. It's taking my breath away every time I look outside! Sigh. Your blog is always a highlight of my day. Thanks for your kind words. :)

      Delete
  6. What an amazing colours. That's real Indian summer, so beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The colors are incredible this year. But I always feel that way in October, so I'm not sure if it's specific to this year or just that amazing sensory overload that happens every October. :)

      Delete
  7. Oooo, that fourth photo down is especially exquisite--the composition is gorgeous. The colors are especially happy this year I think! We are a little bit behind here in Portland because it's been so warm, but that is beginning to change. I think when it started to rain, everyone breathed a sign of relief! I know I'm ready for the Fall and all its beauty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Susie. That line of blazing Sugar Maples was at a public park--visible to all who drove by. Then, today, when I was driving by a local cemetary, I saw a mix of red, orange and yellow Maples there. It really did look like the landscape was on fire! Amazing! I wouldn't believe the colors unless I saw them with my own eyes. They really are this vivid!

      Delete
  8. Wow, that is some amazing color. You're getting much more intense color than we are here in Chicago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The colors do seem particularly intense this year, but autumn color always hits me by surprise when we hit the peak. I believe we're past peak now, but the colors are still vibrant here and there. And the hills still look like they're on fire. All the trees will be bare and spooky on Halloween. ;-)

      Delete
  9. My goodness, what amazing photos. I have never seen autumn colour like this before. We never get anything like it here. It makes me want to jump on a plane and see it for myself. Absolutely fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Chloris. I honestly wouldn't believe it unless I'd seen it with my own eyes. In fact, I don't think my photos truly do it justice. In some places it looks like the landscape is on fire when the sun hits the trees just right. You would be more than welcome to come visit us in the states sometime. I was just thinking today that October 10-18 is about the best time to catch peak color in Southern Wisconsin. Northern Michigan and New England have great autumn color, too. Here's a link to help you plan a trip. ;-) https://roadtrippers.com/blog/scenic-autumn-drives

      Delete
  10. Beth what incredible beauty you've captured...I cannot believe in a week our leaves are just about bare and the garden has been laid low from cooling, cold and rainy weather.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Donna. Our foliage was still vibrant and lovely this weekend, but many of the trees have now lost some of their leaves. The hillsides still look very pretty, and the Oaks are still turning, but the Maples are past peak. Sounds like we'll have Indian Summer next weekend, though. :)

      Delete
  11. Beautiful photos Beth, and stunning colours! The autumn leaves getting red and yellow is a spectacular sight every year, I never tire of seeing it. Autumn hasn’t really taken off here in London yet, but with cooler days coming next week I suppose we are getting there eventually.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Helene. I saw a photo album today about fall colors around the world. They were beautiful, but none of the photos were from the Great Lakes region of the U.S., which is unfortunate because our fall color show is pretty nifty. But several of the photos were from the U.K., which I know is lovely in autumn, too. ;-) Here's the link:
      http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/fall-foliage-2014/.

      Delete
  12. It has been a beautiful summer and fall. Still lots of leaves and color in our garden. Hard to keep your eyes on the road when driving for all the glorious color.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is so true! I've been so distracted lately! Roselawn Cemetery (across from UW Credit Union in Monona) looked like it was on fire! I was at the drive-through and I couldn't take my eyes off the beautiful show across the way. Our back garden is full of Oaks, which peak a little later--not quite as colorful as the Maples, but when the sun shines through, they look like stained glass. Glad you're enjoying this beautiful autumn, too. :)

      Delete
  13. Stunning and a testament to one reason why I love fall! You are several weeks ahead of us with fall color. Our leaves are just beginning to turn. Each day I am eager to get outside to see the changes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Deb. Yes, autumn passes faster here, and our late fall is like your winter, I'm sure. I love fall, too, but it doesn't last long enough. :)

      Delete
  14. The colors and the photos--stunning. 'Nuff said!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Tina. The colors were just so vibrant, I had to "save" some so I can look at them when everything gets gray and brown ... and then white for too long. ;-)

      Delete
  15. Beautiful images! I've had my nose to the ground--literally, planting bulbs--so much I haven't taken more than a couple of photos of the magnificent fall colors. Time to remedy that--October is such a beautiful time!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Rose. Sounds like you have been very busy planting those bulbs. It's good you had some help. I'll look forward to seeing your early spring photos of the blooming bulb plants! Happy October!

      Delete
  16. Some beautiful fall photos. Love the fourth one down, the row of trees along the lakeshore, and close-up of the golden maple leaves.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Heather. Did you think it was more stunning here than recent years, or was it just me? I'm always amazed by the beauty in October, but this year it made my heart leap. Sad that the foliage is dropping so fast now. :(

      Delete
  17. Beautiful set of Autumn photos, more reds than we have at the moment, and this morning we have just had the back end of a hurricane so leaves everywhere. The butterfly and the red oak leaves are just two of my faviouret images.
    Amanda xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Amanda. Things look totally different around here now. More browns and beiges, and less bright red and orange. After the peak color, we settle into pre-winter landscapes pretty fast.

      Delete
  18. I do so love fall and your images capture it perfectly. It has been lovely here in New England as well but we are now in for a few days of rain. I will turn my attention inside.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Layanee. I'm turning my attention inside now, too. We have definitely faded and had our first hard freeze. But my Impatiens on the porch and my Fuchsias in hanging baskets are still blooming! Indian Summer this weekend! The last hurrah. ;-)

      Delete
  19. Replies
    1. Thanks, Janet! It was a stunning October! I miss the bright colors already.

      Delete
  20. Beautiful! I think autumn is more spectacular farther north. :o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've heard that can be the case. Seems like this year was particularly stunning here, but October always surprises me with its beauty. Now we're settling into a plainer landscape. But Indian Summer this weekend. Yippee! ;-)

      Delete
  21. Wow, you could frame some of those pictures - the colors are so gorgeous! I just love the brilliant oranges and reds. That is one of the things I do enjoy about living up in the Northeast. The fall is much more colorful than down South!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why, thank you, Indie! I will frame the scenes in my mind, anyway, and pull them out this winter when I'm shivering in my long underwear and three layers of sweaters. That is the drawback about living here in the north. :(

      Delete
  22. I enjoyed the virtual tour of your lovely area. I'm glad my eyes caught the monarchs in the last photo.

    Thanks for your nice comment on my post about the curb areas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sue. Yes, the monarch were definitely a surprise. I do believe those will be the last ones I see this year. Such a treat. Every time you add a new blog post, I'm excited to see how your plant collection is doing. Cheers!

      Delete
  23. I added your link into the comments on My Hesperides Garden, Garden Bloggers Foliage Day. Lovely classic autumn colours. Christina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Christina! And thanks for hosting. I need to get with the program and link in every month. :)

      Delete