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Japanese Maples Fall Color

'Skeeter's Broom' is the most colorful maple in our garden. I have just returned from a 2-week trip to Japan. This was my first ever trip outside the United States. It was an amazing experience and one I will never forget. Japan was wonderful - they really have their act together and I think the U.S. could learn a few things from them. There was one disappointment on the trip - the fall color had barely begun there and was really just beginning as we left. That is okay because the gardens were still spectacular, and I got a nice shot of fall color when I got back. 'Ryusen' I missed a few things - our ginkgo had just turned a glorious color the day before I left, and the leaves were gone by the time I got back.  'Sango-Kaku' I came home to many leaves on the ground but still a lot on the trees. 'Osakazuki', a beautiful red maple always changed color very late and therefore doesn't usually last long. When I left there was no color but a few remaini

Unexpected snow - an early birthday present for Michael

Snow is an event that is hard to predict here in north Alabama. When the weather people forecast it, nine times out of ten it doesn't happen. When they don't mention it and you are unprepared for it, watch out. This morning was a perfect example. The only snow in the forecast is for Friday. No mention whatsoever for a possibility today. This morning it started sleeting and snowing before I headed to work. I skidded several times driving to work, a scary experience. It was too late for the University to close the school so they just sent out a caution to be careful.

The snow came down in buckets. Michael was at home and he took these photos. I thought he did a great job. We got around 3 inches! The University closed at 11am because "another wave" was expected this afternoon. Now the weathermen say it will just be rain! Too funny but I guess better safe than sorry.

Michael loves it and says it is an early birthday present for him (his birthday is tomorrow).























Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Happy Birthday Michael and what wonderful photos you captured..they are saying we 'may' see some white stuff Friday here in North Florida....

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  2. Phillip, likely you are now home safe and sound. Please tell Michael the photos are great! and I am especially fond of the first one with the symmetry of the evergreen through the garden gate and too the second, the lady in the courtyard.
    Happy Birthday Michael!

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  3. Beautiful shots - love that red door!

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  4. Phillip it looks pretty and those are really nice photos - but seems like the coldest winter we have had in years. I would hate driving in it too.

    Happy Birthday Michael and nice photos you took.

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  5. Frosting for his cake. Great job on those photos and Happy Birthday.

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  6. How lovely, Phillip! Happy birthday wishes to Michael and his 'great eye'!

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  7. Happy Birthday to Michael! Hope you two have a fantastic celebration!

    Your home and gardens are gorgeous in the snow! So much character there.

    Cameron

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  8. Just exquisite....better you than me!

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  9. Awesome pics! My favourite is the one with your red door. Probably because I have a red front door just like it, and I love it lol.
    We're supposed to get snow on Friday too...

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  10. Michael got some lovely shots. Makes me cold just looking at them, but it is beautiful. :) (And good for the garden!)

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  11. I love seeing the dark bark of the Crapes in the snow. I don't know about you two, but this southerner is about sick of winter and snow in particular.

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  12. Phillip, looks like the Birthday Boy took some great pictures. There is something about those sudden snows that give a yard a magical appearance.

    Stay save and y'all enjoy Michael's birthday...

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  13. Unexpected it was! I knew I could count on y'all to document it for me though- Michael took some beautiful pictures! I was bummed to be at work and not at home enjoying it all. By the time I got home at 4:30 it was just a rainy/muddy mess! Ok, I have my "big" snow for the winter..now let's get on with spring! I linked to your post last year on Feb 18 where you showed your daffodils blooming...that is only 8 days away! Unbelievable.

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  14. Happy Birthday to Michael, a day early! And kudos on the photos, they are fabuous! We saw that weather faux pas on the news here. They closed the schools in north GA, sending the kids home then it turned to rain, just like at your place. Your home and garden is the stuff of dreams, the snow like icing on the delicious cake. :-)
    Frances

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  15. As I recall everything shuts down with a little snow on the ground :-) You've certainly had your share this season it seems.

    Lovely photos of your garden all dressed in white. Soon it will be all change to green.

    Happy birthday Michael. Hope you both have a wonderful celebration.

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  16. Phillip~~ Your weather people sound so familiar. Same thing here. Usually they will wrongly predict snow three times before getting it right and there is at least one instance where they're completely caught off guard. This winter it was in December, afternoon rush hour--a nightmare.

    Happy Birthday to Michael. If your gardens look this good in winter, I can only imagine what summer looks like.

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  17. My word what an amazing garden... it appears to go on and on with the most enchanting arbors, sculptures, birdhouses, urns and azure blue walls! Your trees and shrubs... everything look so lovely dress up in white and your Diana or whatever her name... utterly delightful in her fluffy white boa! Magical garden Phillip! Happy Birthday to Michael!! Wonderful photos!! I hope the rest of your birthday was filled with wonder and surprise. Many Happy Returns! Carol

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  18. Hi Phillip, isn't this winter just the craziest?! You guys got a real taste of winter--good thing Michael considers it a birthday present! The photos are just lovely! We just got through 2 feet of snow over the weekend and now, we're expecting another foot up to 20 inches, possible. Climate change sure has been messing with mother nature...or, is that one and the same?! Guess I'll save that for a topic for another post...! Take care;-)

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  19. Great photos Michael. Happy Birthday and I hope you are both snowed in (at home) together tomorrow. Now that would be a great present! I hope to be snowed in with my Deaerly Beloved tomorrow too. I think they have called off school just at the thought of getting 8 inches of snow. Ha..

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  20. I love seeing your garden under snow. It makes your gorgeous hardscaping and the garden's bones show up so clearly.

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  21. What wonderful winter views! I too love snow, and it looks like we may finally have a good snowstorm tomorrow (6-10 inches predicted, which is more than we've had all season, combined!).

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  22. Happy birthday to Micheal.

    There's been so much snow around this winter, in Europe too.

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  23. Happy Birthday Michael...You captured the garden in all its snowy beauty. You two have created a lovely garden. We had a beautiful snowfall last night that is mushy and icy this AM.

    Gail

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  24. Great pictures and Happy Birthday to Michael. I always love seeing pictures of your garden.

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  25. Wow, 3 inches is a lot for you, especially unforecasted. It brings out a different character in your garden, more somber, but still lovely.

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  26. What beautiful pictures of your garden! It's so elegant and well-composed. I love the effect of the evergreens, especially in the snow.

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  27. Your lovely garden is such an inspiration! The pics are *gorgeous*.

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  28. My goodness, your garden is gorgeous in the snow! No snow for us just a wee bit south, but maybe Friday. Probably not, though, as you said, as they have predicted it. I think the snow shows what really good bones your garden has.

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  29. Wow you guys really got a lot of snow! It's gorgeous, as are the photos. Shows what good bones your garden has. They're predicting snow for us for Friday too. We'll see...

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  30. Early February has been very interesting for gardeners this year, hasn't it, Phillip - how cool to see your garden celebrating Michael's birthday with this fluffy, pretty snow.

    Did it get rerouted from Vancouver to Alabama by mistake?

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose
    (it says Glinda but it's still me)

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