Welcome to the Sunday Stills feature hosted by Terri Webster Schrandt.
The theme this week is leaves, autumn and leaves.
The Little Red Acer
Everyone seems to be talking about leaves today.
With all the stormy and windy weather, they have been gathering in gloriously colourful heaps everywhere.
Bittersweet autumn in all its glory…
This is the time of year when I have my very own autumn in my yard. All of my bonsai begin their sleep process roundabout now, some of them gradually changing their colour and then their leaves.
I used to feel sad at this time of year, seeing them stripped bare, their branches revealed again, but this is part of their cycle, and God willing, they will all wake up again in the Spring.
Most of them are in no hurry this year, happy to pretend that winter is not on its way.
Except for one.
Earlier this year
This Acer is usually green, but it turned red overnight this year. And then the leaves began to fall.
This could all be perfectly normal, of course. Or it might mean that the tree is failing. The weather has not been kind for tiny trees in pots, and I almost lost my lovely white Azalea earlier this year.
There is not much I can do, this close to the cold weather, but I might slip it out of its pot and look at the roots. The smell of the root ball can indicate trouble, too…
Can anyone else smell trouble?
Let’s hope it’s all normal stuff.
For the first time, I wish I had a greenhouse, John…
I had one many years ago and it was wonderful.
I think I need to move, I need a bigger garden!
Ha ha ha. Be careful. I had a five acre garden and it still wasn’t enough.
Yes, but you had a greenhouse, John…
True.
Could you get one of those portable greenhouses,? They come is all sorts of sizes from ones that could fit on a window ledge to walk-in ones. Ours worked like a charm this summer/autumn … we’re planning to start our seedlings much earlier next year and once the snow melts we’ll put the greenhouse together again and start our planting that much earlier.
Being further north (shorter growing season) and in a much colder climate than we were used to, we tried a whole bunch of experiments this year. Some worked, some didn’t. 🙂
That might be a great idea, Wides… Thanks!
You have bonsai Japanese maple, Jaye. We have dwarf Japanese maple and regular (adult) size. They still have the leaves.
They don’t seem to be in any hurry, do they. Maybe they know something that we don’t?
My maple is bright red right now.
I bet it looks amazing, Miriam… 🍁🍁
Yes, I’m taking photos through the seasons for my first year in Portland. It would be interesting to compare, Jaye. 🍁🌿
I don’t get out much these days, especially now Winter is coming. But I intend to do better next year…
It’s hard to go out in the winter. I don’t go out as much as summer.