Fall Foliage at Our Little Acre

Last week, "there came a killing frost" and fall definitely had its game on. The colors are not as vibrant after a dry summer and we sure had that, just like last year. But you can't keep a good woman down and Mother Nature showed us that she still had plenty of tricks up her sleeve.

In years past, it seems to me that the plants and trees that change colors reached their peak at pretty much the same time. This year it was more spread out, which is why this post has been so late in coming. Just as I thought everything had turned, one more plant or tree surprised me.

The high winds we had over the weekend brought down a lot of the beautifully colored leaves, but I had taken several pictures of them before that happened.

This is the only maple (Acer sp.) in our yard that turns this gorgeous shade of orangy-yellow. It's my favorite color on the trees in the fall.





The Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)always turns the most gorgeous shade of peachy gold.





At the very back of Our Little Acre are some Burning Bushes (Euonymus alatus) and our new-this-year Witch Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis), contrasting nicely.


This Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) tree has been in this spot for three years now. Previously it was in the front of the house, which proved to be a bad spot in terms of protection from the strong winter winds we get. It's been much happier here on the east side, where it has a little protection from the house.


Probably the most vibrant of anything we have, the Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) absolutely glows in Max's Garden, especially when the late afternoon sun shines on it, as it is doing here.


The Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Emperor II') really hasn't gotten its usual fall color yet, for some reason. A smaller Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Mikawa yatsubusa'), which is planted under the kitchen window just around the corner from this one, is still green as green can be. But the Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa) in the foreground is just gorgeous! I don't remember it being this red before.



The Beauty Bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis 'Dream Catcher') is new to Our Little Acre this year, too. It has lovely pink coloring right now.

















I have always loved Flowering Kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala 'Nagoya') and this fall, they have been fabulous. I've got both purple and white. As you can see, the frost hasn't hurt them a bit.

The Xeranthemum in the background is unfazed by it so far, too, and echoes the magenta colors beautifully.







The ornamental peppers (Capsicum annuum 'Medusa') have been casting their orange spell for several months now. A couple of hard frosts finally did it in though.
















Behind the small bird bath/feeder, the Viburnum (not sure which kind - it was a passalong from my grandma) is glowing a muted red.

The fountain that is usually in this spot has been put away for the winter, but the Viburnum on the right (same one that's shown in the photo above) provides good color interest and the Hydrangea 'Lady In Red' shows just one of the reasons she was so named.



For more beautiful color shows from various locations around the world, visit The Home Garden, where Dave is hosting The Garden Blogger Fall Color Project.




Now that I've shared some of the beautiful color here, I feel better about having received the Fabulous Fall Decor Award, which was presented to me by three fellow bloggers on the same day! Thank you, Perennial Gardener (Does Everything Grow Better in My Neighbor's Yard?), Lona (A Hocking Hills Garden), and Vicki (Havenwood).