The first official day of winter is Monday, December 21, known as the December solstice. So, legally, it's still autumn now. To close this season, these are several pictures reflecting how lovely last autumn was in the Pacific Northwest. The foliage stayed on the trees til late November showing all the pretty fall colors.
Maples were especially vivid and bright.
This tree has leaves of different colors simultaneously. Interesting, isn't it?
Fallen leaves decorated driveways, sidewalks and lawns.
The last leaves of autumn signaled the end of the season.
We are now somewhere between the seasons. The fall colors are gone, and the winter whites are not here yet.
This time last year we already had snow. The picture below was taken on the 15th of December 2008.
Yesterday, it was so warm, wet and green that it smelled and looked like spring. It was then when I realized that I am not ready for spring yet. I need to go through some cold, snowy days and weeks to long for warmth, sun and everything that spring brings. Well, I miss sun when I don't have it, but obviously I didn't suffer enough yet. I don't want to jump over the seasons. I want to experience them all. The same is true about the plants. They need a period of cold and a good rest that dormancy brings. A good winter brings a good summer. Sleep plants, sleep! Come winter, come!
Copyright 2009 TatyanaS
Copyright 2009 TatyanaS
Wonderul pictures Tatyana, I can't get enough of the vibrant reds! I like your perspective of winter being a good time of rest for the plants. I'll have to think of it that way while bemoaning the long cold un-green winter days ahead. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, Tatyana! You certainly had some gorgeous fall color this year. I am like you--I need some cold, snowy days and even a few gray days in order to really appreciate the coming of spring. My daughter says the rainy season has begun in Portland; here, I'm wishing for some snow for Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHi Tatyana, you are so wise! While the colors of Autumn made my heart soar, what beauties!!!, we need that down time of winter as well. It is a time of reflection of what has been and hope of what is to come. Your plantings are lovely as is your home, it looks like a dream! I especially like the planting by the mailbox? It seems almost Asian in flavor, a style that has been calling to me recently. :-)
ReplyDeleteFrances
It is still legally (lol) Autumn but you would not think so here... -3 and frozen hot water pipes in my studio. Winter is cheating and coming too soon... it must be illegal! HA! He says breathing frosty cold down my neck! I love your bright colorful landscapes... beautiful Tatyana! Lovely how you framed each and every one. You last shot of the grapes is great! Winter will come ... but I guess you never know one so hard as we. Lovely post. Carol
ReplyDeleteRebecca, Rose, Frances, Carol, thank you! We need some snow here.To cover plants, to keep them warm. Last year, snow came first and blanketed the ground before the cold came.
ReplyDeleteLovely colours. We're covered with a blanket of snow here in the UK, it seems that winter has come early.
ReplyDeleteTatyana, I wish you and your family a very happy christmas, and may next year brings much blessings and happiness to you all.
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures and I hope you get snow as you want.
Muchos cariños
Maria Cecilia
I do enjoy the changing colors of the trees ...
ReplyDeleteThe cold not so much ..
(Hope you have a Fun Weekend)
Good morning Tatyana, I can't believe how warm it felt yesterday; I was outside taking some pictures and quite comfortable in only a t-shirt. And the weeds are beginning, so I decided the best thing for me to do was go back in the house. I'm not ready for weeding! Your last beautiful photo is what I'm looking for.
ReplyDeleteWe do need to experience every season that we can...with proper rest, us and the plants, perform much better come spring..Lovely post!
ReplyDeleteI know that officially it is not Winter yet. But as far as I am concerned anytime the leaves fall off of the trees, and you need a second pair of socks, it is WINTER.
ReplyDeleteLOL.
Great Autumn shots, looking forward to your Winter shots soon.
And then .....Spring.
Jen
I was thinking the same thing yesterday and this morning. It feels like Spring after that icy cold weather we'd been having.
ReplyDeleteI do hope we get a little snow here this winter.
Great fall pictures!
I sometimes think autumn gets chased away too soon...glad you're holding on...a bit
ReplyDeleteSuch a nice surprise to see the lovely autumn shots with so much snow around outside and on blogs but then I see you had your snow too this time last year.
ReplyDeleteSigh. Autumn is my favorite season, so thanks for the wonderful pics and memories, Tatyana! As we're dealing with ice and snow and 18-degree nights, it's a joy to remember the glorious colors. But I agree, it's nice to have a season of rest, as well...
ReplyDeleteWe're still holding on to Autumn down here, just past peak color. The Flowering pears are bright red & orange 7 still some yellow birch & Ash around. My Apricot tree in the backyard is bright yellow. You did a fantastic job capturing the feel of the season. Happy Winter to you...
ReplyDeleteFarewell to Autumn. We have had a glorious fall, more colorful than usual. The last red leaves are falling and colder weather is on the way when the rain passes on through.
ReplyDeleteHi Tatyana,
ReplyDeleteThere has been an absence of autumn color on Blotanical. Thank you for showing us your colorful photos and reminding us of the beauty of the season.
I wish you a blessed white Christmas! May snow come to your home soon.
ReplyDeleteThe multi-colored tree in your photo is undoubtedly a Sweet Gum. Isn't it gorgeous? Every fall I swear I must have one, but they are messy with spiky seedheads. Still, I think this spring I must find one. The beauty is fabulous, and lasts well into November when the rest of the world is gray.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays to you Tatyana!
ReplyDeleteGlorious colors you've found, Tatyana! I especially like the photos with leaves on the ground (& particularly the yellow house that has red doors!). Like you, I need a little snow, but our winter usually hangs on too long. It's early yet, so I'm looking forward to that white blanket!
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful colors! We all need a break, and need to experience all that nature has to offer. I will be planting seeds soon...but it wont be too much gardening until March.
ReplyDeleteTatyana
ReplyDeleteI wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year.
All the best
Rob
So nice to see fall leaves when ours are all mulching the garden beds now. Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteI agree, sleep, sleep plants. I need a break also.
ReplyDeleteHi Tatyana~~ As usual, your photos never disappoint. The trees were indeed beautiful this year, weren't they? My Liquidambars, [the multi-colored tree in one of your photos] looked great until that cold snap. Now what leaves remain are an insipid brown. It really has been warm the last few days.
ReplyDeleteAutumn is so beautiful. Thanks for the gorgeous photos. You are right about winter - part of the glory of spring is the awakening and freshness that could not be without the time of sleep before it.
ReplyDeleteI agree Tatyana, I like to experience all the seasons, even though where I live there are not the extremes you have. No wonder the plants and I feel tired, not enough cold time for dormancy! (Interestingly, very few Australian indigenous plants are deciduous.) cheers, catmint
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful photo... colorful trees!!. But I love the last picture, that's really mouth watering!. Cheers, Merry Christmas ~ bangchik
ReplyDeleteAwesome autumn colors and marvelous photos! Have an enjoyable white Christmas season, Tatyana!
ReplyDeleteWe have plenty of winter white here now..seems like only yesterday I was taking similar pictures of the pretty fall leaves...now it seems like SO long ago in other ways. ha
ReplyDeleteHope you have a wonderful holiday season!
A beautiful reminder, Tatyana! Wishing you a Happy Solstice and beautiful Christmas season :)
ReplyDeleteI love the pic of the grapes and the snow! I always celebrate the winter solstice because it's the shortest day of the year and from that point forward the days will get longer! YIPPEE!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pics! The ambiance is so elegant and quiet and graceful. Also a little mysterious, like pictures from a fairytale. I'm wishing you snow so you can have your desired incubation period. Wish I had such a beautiful setting to live in. Blessings and have a great new year.
ReplyDeletebeautiful photos! We have liquid ambar here for color but the natives not so much. The native sycamore makes a beautiful luminous golden color down along our creek. Thanks for sharing your Fall color!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, Tatyana. I, too, am looking forward to this celebration of winter. Although, it won't be long until I ache for the arrival of spring. Happy Winter Solstice!!
ReplyDeleteHow lucky for you ~ to still be celebrating autumn. We're in the midst of deep snow and a deep freeze. Which made me love your brilliant autumn colors all the more. :) Happy Solstice! - kate
ReplyDeleteHappy Winter Solstice and thank you for the beautiful fall reminders....We don't ever have winter snow cover so we go to brows. The last photo with snow covered grapes is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI hope your holiday is filled with love and celebration!
gail
Beautiful Snapshots from Autumn! Loved the Maples in vivid colours. Specially liked the tree with different shades on it. Hoping for a good winter... so that a good summer follows suite!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas n a Very Happy New Yr ahead...
Hey Tatyana! Nothing speaks Autumn better than a maple in full glory...gee, was that only a month ago??
ReplyDeleteThe garden does need to rest and rejuvinate though so I GUESS I'm glad that WINTER is here...lol!
Great pics!
The colors of fall can never get old! My favorite thing to do in the fall is take a walk in a Maple forest. The carpet of colors are fit for a king!
ReplyDeleteAll that lovely green, gold and red looks very good to my eyes. We are buried under snow here and more is coming down. I wish I could share some with you so you could have a white Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a very Merry Christmas.
Marnie
All the pictures are gorgeous, Tatyana. The red foliage, the fallen leaves, the change of season so beautifully captured. I like the last photo of snow on the grapes and the implication of rest and dormancy.
ReplyDeleteI've moved to Wordpress now. I wish you and your loved ones A MERRY CHRISTMAS and a great 2010!