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September Surprises

It is always a thrill to stumble across a plant that I may have forgotten about or one that does something unexpected. That has happened several times over the past weeks.  First, the vine pictured above is the Eastern Prince Schisandra vine ( Schinensis chinensis ), also known as "Magnolia Vine".  I purchased it in May of 2023 from One Green World in Portland. I don't know what attracted me to it, other than the fact that I'd never heard of it before and the description sounded nice.  I didn't forget about this plant; in fact, it has grown quite vigorously up an archway at the entrance to our woodland path. It shares space alongside the rose 'Lamarque'.  I did forget that it produces berries, so I was surprised when I looked up and saw them dangling over the top of the arbor.  The berries are used in Chinese medicine. They are called the "Five Flavor Berry" and said to have five flavors in one - sweet, salty, bitter, tangy and sour.  Chinese le...
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Morning Sunshine

sunrise4 This morning I was having a cup of coffee and glanced outside and noticed the sun coming up and casting a very cheery effect on the autumn foliage. I grabbed the camera and went outside in my robe and house shoes and was taking photos. It was very cold this morning! But that is nothing compared to this weekend when Sunday's high will only be in the 30s.

Everyone is saying that we are in for a cold winter. I hear this every year but this time I think they may be correct. It seems that the colors of the Japanese maples have intensified over the past week. The trees around town and those on the UNA campus are just spectacular. I love this time of year!
sunrise5
sunrise6 Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. Lisa at GreenbowNovember 20, 2013 at 11:04 AM

    The autumn foliage looks so pretty in the morning light. All of our foliage is down for the year. I should say all except the Japanese maples and they look like dirty rags hanging there. ugh... Love the early morning and late evening light this time of year.

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  2. Anne BoykinNovember 21, 2013 at 7:24 AM

    Hi Phillip, I don't know a lot about photography but I think it's hard to capture the light this time of year, especially in the morning. You did it! Beautiful scenes from your lovely garden.

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  3. Edith KentNovember 21, 2013 at 1:29 PM

    Great shots Phillip. The garden still looks beautiful but also sad because we know what's around the corner!
    Hope the prediction of bad winter is wrong

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  4. David OliverNovember 21, 2013 at 3:47 PM

    A coat last week, shirt sleeves today and a coat Sunday? I'm not complaining about the changeable weather. As long as we have warm days, I'll take 'em however they get here. I think we are going to have a cold winter too. When it gets this cold in November, it's like sneezing and coughing, you know what's coming.

    Beautiful pictures!

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  5. LarryNovember 22, 2013 at 7:05 AM

    Philip… I need to tell you once again how much I enjoy the photos you post. I often peruse blogs from my recliner with my i-pad and for some reason it doesn't allow me to comment… so I made a short trip to the i-mac this morning to let you know I'm enjoying your posts! Larry

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  6. Phillip OliverNovember 22, 2013 at 7:36 AM

    Thanks Larry! I enjoy your posts too!

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  7. AnonymousNovember 22, 2013 at 1:23 PM

    So pretty. We had such a long, lovely fall that I am missing it today. Sleet fell all day. It's about 25F out there. Brrr. I'm glad I have the greenhouse to keep me warm.~~Dee

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  8. RobinLNovember 24, 2013 at 4:58 PM

    Autumn at your house is incredible, so much color! Your fall color is where ours was a few weeks ago. That first picture made me catch my breath, with the morning light shining in.

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