December 2, 2009

Some Views of the Late Garden



It's a beautiful morning, crisp and clear. The temperature is just below freezing; the pond has a slight coating of white over its frozen surface, a ghost shape in the pale brown landscape. Looking out from the front windows, I noticed how the dead lengths of daylily leaves looked like layers of fluid lines drawn on the earth, rhythmically catching the light. So of course I went outdoors with my camera; while outdoors, enjoying the air and thin sunlight, I noticed other images around the house.




Another type of calligraphy, more spare and lyrical, was drawn by branches of honeysuckle curving across the expanse of blue.




The spirea by the front porch, still flowering in October, is the only plant showing fall color now that we're entering winter. Its thin leaves are glowing against the subtle colors surrounding them.




The mass of Hydrangea Annabelle have browned and their leaves have fallen, leaving flower heads swaying on long stems. I enjoy looking at these remnants of summer throughout the winter, though they look more bedraggled as time goes by. I cut them back in early spring, opening the space for vigorous new growth.

3 comments:

  1. You have such an eye...calligraphy, yes! and that red on the spirea is gorgeous...are these fresh from the camera, or is there a bit of embellishment via photoshop? Whatever, you have a nack to present beauty and I applaud.

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  2. With this group of photos, I didn't have to do any photoshop adjusting, except for cropping,(well, I did straighten the lines of clapboard in the hydrangea shot). The spirea really is that bright.

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  3. I have tried cutting back these Hydrangeas once in Autumn and once in Spring. I think the fall pruning worked better.
    I tried again this year. I'll let you know how it goes.
    Cheryl

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