florjus blog

Autumn 2022

Under the Autumn Leaves

The autumn sun shining transforms dangling leaves into something like stained glass. It's enchanting.

It's even more brilliant in motion. Watch the videos to see what I mean.

Callery pear leaves in shades of red and green dangle from a branch on a sunny autumn day.

Callery Pear (Prunus Calleryana) Leaves in Mid Autumn

Narrow leaves of the willow oak tree hang on the branches in shades of gold, tan and green against a blue sky on a sunny day..

Willow Oak (Quercus Phellos) Leaves in Mid Autumn

Intriguing Pattern & Colors on Mystery Leaves

Why does it bother me so much that I can't identify this vine? I should just appreciate nature's artistry.

But my know-it-allism won't let it go. I'm still searching for the answer.

An upclose view of light orange and yellow heart shaped vine leaves with green spots.

Vine with light orange and yellow heart shaped leaves with green spots climb a lichen covered tree trunk.

Autumn Leaves: Muted Colors

It's autumn; most of the flowers have exited the stage. The leaves held their own in the background from spring through summer. Now, they're the season's stars.

A closeup of an arrowwood viburnum leaf undergoing leaf color change from green to dark red. Red Arrowwood Viburnum leaves hang on to a few raindrops after an autumn rain shower.

Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum Dentatum) Leaves

Abundant White Oak leaves hang on a branch. Leaf color ranges from yellows, oranges and browns.

White Oak (Quercus Alba) Leaves

A closeup of a Freeman maple leaf undergoing leaf color change from green to dark red.

Freeman Maple (Acer x Fremanii) Leaf

Goldenrod (Solidago) Buds

In contrast to the glowing goldenrod flowers (see below), the flower buds are more subtle. I don't know if I'd call the buds yellow. They're more of a chartreuse that belongs to spring.

But when the tiny flowers bloom... Surprise! Electric yellow. You can't always guess a flower's color by the color of it's buds.

Goldenrod is often mistaken for ragweed. A tip for the confused---leaves of goldenrod are short and narrow while ragweed has decorative foliage similar to some ferns.

...And another thing. Ragweed is wind pollinated (hence the allergies). Goldenrod is heavily dependent on insect pollinators. Remember that if the urge strikes to demolish a stand of goldenrod.

Don't believe me? Watch the Goldenrod and Honey Bees Video

An upclose view of vibrant green goldenrod flower buds.

One stem of goldenrod buds grows above the others in a stand of goldenrod on a sunny morning.

A clump of goldenrod flower buds on a sunny morning.

Vibrant green goldenrod flower buds backlit by morning sun.

Wild Asters aka Frost Aster aka Oldfield Aster

In the autumn, frost asters (Symphyotrichum Pilosum) are a common sight in the Washington, DC area. You see the sprays of delicate white flowers on the edge of woodlands, roadside ditches and abandoned spaces.

The tiny daisies are worth a closer look. On a warm day, slow your stroll and observe the pollinators crawling and flying around the last of the blooms before the winter season.

White petaled frost asters with yellow centers bloom on a drooping branch.

A languid branch of frost aster flowers.

A green cucumber beetle with black spots rests on the last blooming aster flower on the branch.

A cucumber beetle rests on the last frost aster bloom on the branch.

A closeup view of a group of small white aster flowers on a branch.

A closeup of dainty frost aster flowers.

An aster plant blooms with an abudance of tiny daisy like flowers.

Masses of tiny frost aster flowers blooming for fall's hungry insects.

Early Autumn

I want to do better this fall than I did this past summer. Really, I do.

The point of this blog is to show the changes over the season. Posting an end of season wrap up is in keeping with my philosophy of experiencing the season as it unfolds.

In my defense, sporadic blog posts indicate I'm working on something else like a video or a florjus journal post.

But sometimes I'm in the throes of procrastination, perfectionism or laziness. Or a combination of all.

Enough about me. Please enjoy a few early autumn photos.