The Gifts of Autumn #11: Trees in my neighbourhood

Sundays on the seawall

Though it can be hard (especially last week when plants, pots, & plans exceeded available space), I try to remind myself of the advantages of a  very small  balcony garden. Here's one: it allows time for long, meandering walks because you don't have to rake leaves.

And here are some moments from the the past three Sunday seawall walks when I looked, wondered and enjoyed.

This arrangement made me wonder: did nature create it or some passer-by with a compulsion to tidy the unruly masses of leaves on the path?

Click to read more ...

Saturday's destination

The Hope Slough (in Chilliwack, B.C.), fish habitat restoration area
photographed on the bridge, October 30th, 2010

And now you know why I was so impatient to leave the city last Saturday morning.

Today I've also written about  A Sense of Place on the Hedge Society.

South Cambie's autumn tones

Three hours, more than 40 city blocks east, north, west and south, hundreds of trees and shrubs (more likely thousands as we also walked through Queen Elizabeth Park), countless shades of autumn colours, and only one, brief rain shower at the end of it all -- a blissful October afternoon.

Sumac (Rhus) rainbow

Prickly, green fruit of the American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

Burning bush (Euonymous alatus)

Another burning bush in a different light

Rich, maroon Viburnum leaves

Heavy leaf-fall warning

Hearts glow, tremble, cling --
Then, all pour down with the rain,
Tumble in the wind.*

*(According to the 5-7-5 rule, the haiku must end here, but the work does not: so I'd like to add 5 more syllables: 5 hours of raking!  And yes, despite all the raking, the katsura is still my favourite tree for autumn colour and light.)