Ode to October

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We live on Vancouver Island in Western Canada. On eastern side of the Island and about 40 minutes drive from Capital City of this province Victoria.
We live in rural area on 8 forested acres with 3 dominant old trees: Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) , Western Red cedar and Arbutus menziesii (Pacific Madrona)
October, around our property is my second favourite month of the year . MAY being the first. Some people find fall (autumn) sad but for me it is like kissing my child good night as I know it will wake up in the spring refreshed and glorious. Misbehaved in times.

General view from our deck and also dining room and kitchen in October

Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) on a retaining wall in October

It is not a true ivy, it belongs to the same family as grapes. It looses all the leaves after this spectacular colour in October

a detail of leaves

During the summer our views are mainly green until October when our Bigleaf maples (Acer macrophyllum) start to shine. This tree is native to this area and extremely fast grower. I am their big fan but my OH is not. Over the time some mysteriously disappeared.

View towards southeast.

it is the largest maple species in North America. Their leaves are up to 12" wide

View in the front over the fountain and the lawn to the SE . Bigleaf maples here are framed by Red Cedar trees.

few Japanese maples:
Japanese maple Crimson Queen will eventually turn fiery orange. Potted Osakazuki in the distnce

Japanese maple Atropurpureum

Young Fern-Leaf Maple Aconitifolium (‘Maiku jaku’ or dancing peacock )

Earlier

Later

Lacy Japanese Maple Villa Toranto.

Japanese maple Butterfly can brighten the darker spot

JM ‘Sango-kaku (Coral bark)…. leaves in October
This maple puts on real show in winter with it’s orange branches. Such dominant presence in winter.

Another red acer Atropurpureum

Japanese maple Joardan
This maple has vivid chartreuse leaves in early spring.

Down in the valley (hundred yards from our house toward the ocean) I grow some grapes ….for birds mainly. Had few more plants in the past, but it is deer’s favourite snack. Right now the colour of their leaves is bright yellow. There is also a small orchard which is lovely sight in the early spring.

Ortega grapes:

15 years ago I planted a crab apple tree Red sentinel on edge of the forest . Unfortunately, none of my birds care for it. Not even squirrels, they like big apples. So it is there just looking pretty. I make crab apple jelly ones in a blue moon.
It is a huge tree now.

Viburnum plicatum tomentosum ‘Mariesii’
This is very visible tree on the property right at the end of our driveway coming down.
It is beautiful in both seasons, when it is blooming and when the leaves turn red.

Another view on a rainy day

Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ (Redbud) with a Bigleaf behind. I do not have luck with this beautiful tree. So far so good but every spring I hold my breath as they sleep longer than most other trees.

Heart shape leaf detail

I put Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus) at the beginning of a forest path. I left it in a pot because of the massive roots of a large fir ….it is mostly invisible during summer but shines there in October

Small Orchard by the greenhouse (potting hut) with Bigleaf trees shining through

Shin-deshojo Japanese maple.
The best colour of this tree is in the spring…not fall but still pretty at this time of the year.

Leaves of Cornus Florida Cherokee chief.
Also beautiful in spring.

Colourful fallen leaves of maple and flowering plum

Changing leaves of Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Red Fox’
This tree is changing colour of it’s leaves few times during the year and smells like a burning sugar when the leaves are starting to fall.

Cotinus (Smoke bush) has a glorious color in October

And our colourful garden friends
Downy woodpecker

The Steller Jay with its deep blue and black plumage and shaggy crest is a stunning and attractive bird, but very noisy. A pair of them fully adopted us.

Anna’s hummingbirds stay with us all winter.

I have few flowers still blooming but for me OCTOBER is all about changing leaf colours. I just wish the rains would stay away for couple more weeks.
-———————

“I am so glad I live in a world where are Octobers”

L.M. Montgomery
Anne of Green Gables

• 18 Oct, 2020
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