I like seeing the various colors in the landscape as a way of identifying what trees are in our woods. Leaf shape another method of identification. The tree in the photo above is also the tree in the next few photos. The large yellow statement in the woods might lead you to think it is a hickory or maple of some variety. No, closer investigation tell us it is Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua. See the palmated leaf? What a wide range of colors. Love the red shades.
In addition to yellows and reds, Sweetgum also has dark burgundy colors. This one stands out nicely against the yellow of another Sweetgum sapling.
Now we do have Hickories in our woods. There are a few varieties of Hickory, Carya, each showing its bold yellow foliage.
Love how the yellow stands out against the water.
Multiple colors in the woods, showing us that there is bio-diversity in our woods.
Another yellow in the forest is Beech, Fagus grandifolia, with its golds, yellows, bronzes, and soon --beiges. I love the way Beeches seem to glow as they start to lose their green color. It is another tree that you can identify in the fall as it has its multiple shades of yellows. Winter its foliage will be the beigey tan color, remaining on the branches, another identifying feature of the Beech.
In addition to the yellows, there are many reds in the woods. I love the White Oak, Quercus alba, with its russet burgundy reds. It is like a beautifully tanned leather. Just gorgeous.
Remember my Sassafras albidum from a couple days ago? It continues to change, getting more orange and red and coral colored.
Many think of Crepe Myrtles, Lagerstroemia ssp. for their summer bloom color or perhaps its lovely exfoliating bark in the winter. I love its great fall colors.
Some are brighter and more brilliant than others, but, wow, what a presence in the landscape.
I love the colors of fall. The angle of the sun gives an extra warmth and glow to the myriad of color.
My front yard---
And my backyard--
Happy Thanksgiving to you all! Enjoy the beauty of nature around you.
While writing this post we had the TV on. A fascinating show on CNN called 'The Next List'- this week's show is about Nalini Nadkarni, a professor and scientist doing tree canopy research. If you have a few minutes to watch it is very interesting.
©Copyright 2012 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford.
words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.
Backyard's coming along nicely!! Beautiful fall colors on your trees in the woods. How lucky to have such an abundance close by!
ReplyDeleteTina, thanks. Slowly but surely the garden is filling in. We enjoy our woods, appreciating it all the time.
DeleteI enjoyed your tour of trees. At the farm nursery, the Sweet Gum are good sellers for fall color. Hickory and Beech are reserved for big properties. I did the double take on your post title. I thought I missed a few days.
ReplyDeleteDonna GWGT, Yes, Sweet Gum is a great fall color, just leave out the seed pods!! We have a lot of room, so yes, Beech and Hickory are perfect for our lot. Sorry to confuse you with the days.
DeleteWe have lots of sweet gums here and a few beech trees. Love their fall color. I wish I had more sassafras and I always drool over the gold of the upland hickories.
ReplyDeleteSweetbay, fall color is always rewarding. Think you need to plant a Sassafras or two. These Hickory are grand with their huge leaves!
DeleteJanet your trees are gorgeous! I love all the trees you've highlighted. The view from your front garden of the sun rising is so pretty! I posted a reply on my site but here is again...would love a Heart's-a-Bustin pass-along and am so excited that you are thinking of coming over in April. It would be great if we could get together before that too! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteKarin, thanks, I love them. Hahaah, that is the setting sun, we don't get up for the rising sun-- retirement is grand. I will dig and pot a Heart's a Bustin for you! Yes, April for sure, maybe some time sooner as well.
DeleteJanet, the foliage in your garden is gorgeous--what a beautiful view! I must admit--I despise sweetgums, but they redeem themselves with their fall show. The beech trees in our forest are just amazing this year. In fact, I can't remember a recent year that we've had so much lovely fall color--possibly because we actually had a bit of rain this summer. I love your photo of the hickory with the lake in the background--you definitely live in a gardener's paradise! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteJulie, the camera doesn't do it justice! Have some super red colors. Love our view, in the fall and winter with the leaves down we have more of a panoramic view. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
DeleteBeautiful collection of autumn trees. That's the best thing about fall color...different color at different times.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, thanks. Love all the different colors in the fall.
DeleteYou are indeed surrounded by beauty...should make it easy to enjoy a Happy Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteRicki, yes, it is beautiful here. Every day is enjoyed.
DeleteHappy Thanksgiving to you as well. I see your fall has been just as colorful as we have had here.
ReplyDeleteLes, thanks, yes, the fall color is great.
DeleteBeautiful, beautiful colors!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration!
Lea
Lea's Menagerie
Lea, thanks a bunch! You too.
DeleteLovely fall colors, Janet. I am particularly taken with the striking burgundy of the Sweetgum and the red of the White Oak. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteJennifer, thanks. I like the burgundy and reds a lot too. They just don't photograph as well.
DeleteI adore Autumn, and you have such a wonderful variety of leaf colour and form to enjoy. As to the light through the grasses, sublime. Looking at how much you have achieved in your still-young garden is hugely encouraging as I embark on my own new adventure!
ReplyDeleteJanet, I am enjoying all the colors of fall. Yes, the light through the Muhly grasses was a great occurrence, I just turned and there was this cloud of pink. Little by little we make our mark in our new gardens. Yours has been just a few short months in your hands.
DeleteYes indeed that is the Sweet gum all right. I've got three HUGE trees in my front yard and two more around the side. Lots of leaves to compost. The last shot of your garden and the sun shining through the grasses is absolutely stunning. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Janet!
ReplyDeleteGrace, yes Sweetgum really put on a show in the fall. Bet you have a lot of gumballs too!! Happy Thanksgiving to you as well.
DeleteDear Janet,
ReplyDeletewhat a rich harvest of colours! So beautiful - so impressing. I would like to see the TV show - alas, as I can't, there are always the books.
Britta, thanks, it is a lovely harvest of color. I think you can see that TV show online at the link I shared. If so, it is well worth watching as it is certainly interesting.
DeleteThose are wonderful tree photos! I love the leaves in Autumn...tis my favorite time of year.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your Thanksgiving.
Rosey, thanks so much. I love the fall colors too.
DeleteThese are so beautiful! Glad you shared them, Lynda
ReplyDeleteLynda, thanks so much.
DeleteJanet what a beautiful canopy....such variety. I need to get my tree ID skills up to par. Happy Thanksgiving
ReplyDeleteDonna @GEV, we do have a lot of trees in our area. My tree ID skills are weak, realizing that each time I am out in the woods trying to figure out an ID.
DeleteSuch great range of trees and colours in this post. I wish I could grow some of these trees, that sassafras is sublime. Do you have any trouble with beech getting cankers there? Seems like a big problem here and many are being removed to try and preserve the uninfested trees.
ReplyDeleteMarguerite, thanks, we are lucky to have a diverse forest. I haven't heard of cankers on the Beech trees, will have to read more about that.
DeleteYour fall foliage looks so good Janet ~ ours is pretty much gone now. I love the shot of your backyard with the pink muhly grass. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving?!
ReplyDeleteAlso, thanks for the tip about watching the pipe insulation (on the espalier) for condensation. I will definitely keep an eye out ~ maybe you saved it for me??!!!
Kathleen, thanks! Ours is gone now... hate the final few on the trees, they look so sad. Yes, Thanksgiving was very nice.
DeleteBeautiful fall colors, Janet! I like the diversity of your woods--it creates such a kaleidoscope of color. Our trees are pretty much bare now--winter is definitely settling in.
ReplyDeleteRose, I like our diversity too...makes for lots of great color.
DeleteI have an allele of 8 yellow sweet gums in the island in the middle of the parking lot qt Trinity. No idea they came in different colors including the handsome burgundy. I do have a noticeable gap in the allele. I thought I'd put in a fiery red maple. But learned this year the maple would be over before sweet guns yellow up. So I'm saving my money for a 8' tall blue spruce so timing won't be an issue???
ReplyDeletePatrick, I think the spruce would be a nice addition, just remember the size at maturity.
DeleteYour Fall looked much better than ours. Here is western NC it was rather bland; a few splashes or color here and there, but gone very quickly. Maybe due to the very dry conditions.
ReplyDeleteGardening Under the Influence, we have been really dry, but the fall colors seem to be quite good.
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