Lycoris radiata, “Surprise Lily”
Watching the turn of the seasons is always about color.
Colonial Parkway, near Yorktown
We watch for things to green up in early summer, and in autumn, I watch for red.
Fuschia beginning to bloom again in the cooler weather, and Oxalis.
As lovely as yellow Tulip Poplars and orange Crepe Myrtle leaves may be,
I love the vibrant scarlet tones of autumn,
The Devil’s Walkingstick berries turn dark before the birds take them.
popping out against the tired summer foliage of ground, hedge, and trees.
College Creek, near Jamestown.
First come the Dogwood leaves,
Dogwood
then the bright red flower spikes of Pineapple Sage
Pineapple Sage
and the sudden surprise of Lycoris radiata popping out of nowhere.
Pokeberry stems turn bright magenta as its berries transform from dull green into vivid inky black.
Pokeberries, here, growing in a hedge of blackberry canes.
Next the Virginia Creeper Vines turn vivid scarlet and almost jump from their trees in excitement.
“The Devil’s Walking Stick”, Aralia spinosa.
The season will progress, each day more vividly colorful than the next, until the color finally comes blowing to the ground in a November storm.
But now, in late September, as the annual parade of color is just beginning…. I’m watching for red-
Coleus
All Photos by Woodland Gnome 2013
Forest Garden 
Pingback: A Golden November Day | Forest Garden
We are waiting for the trees to ‘turn’ – change to fall colors of red and yellow. Right now there are only a very few trees that have fall color but they are changing every day.
Any ideas on why they’re changing here- far to the south, before they are in the more northern states? We have more color every day- and also many trees where the leaves just crumpled and fell without changing. It has been such a strange season. I’ve heard the Hudson Valley is one of the prettiest areas in the whole country in autumn.
Best wishes- WG
Beautiful pictures! It is nice to share the anticipation of autumn with you.
Thank you so much 😉 Have you been to this area? I wanted to share how beautiful it is in the historical areas this time of year.
I like to look for yellow too. Nice post.
Thank you very much. Are you seeing much color yet? Thank you for looking visiting the blog again 😉
My maple tree has some color but the rest are not doing much, I think some cold weather would help 🙂
Soon, maybe. It has been so unpredictable lately. I can’t wait to see your photos once the leaves are turning 😉