Autumn Reflections

Two days ago, I took a walk through my neighborhood. I walked down to the pond which is near our neighborhood pool. The pond area is stocked with fish and our association has taken time to put in plants for year round beauty, and for erosion control. It's gorgeous just about any time of year. But I can't remember it being so memorable as it was on October 30th while I was snapping away.



The leaves were brilliant, bright reds, golds, oranges and all colors in between. I am so happy I finally took photos, because it's rained the last 2 days and most of the colors are beginning to fade.



Isn't the gold reflection in this pond as magnificent, or more so, than the gold of the leaves on the tree?



I posted a couple of collages of my autumn photos in a previous post for Garden Blogger Muse Day, but I'll add them here, in case you didn't read my last post.  While autumn has never been my favorite time of year,  these photos leave me with no choice but to hold on to wonderful, warm memories of late October's beauty.



So many more beautiful autumn colors are on display over at The Home Garden, as part of Dave's Fall Color Project.  Garden Bloggers from around the world have posted their breath-taking fall photos and Dave is displaying them for all to see.



Why not take a few moments and visit the The Home Garden? You'll be glad you did!

Garden Blogger Muse Day: Nov. 1st, 2009

"In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year,
bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care and toil.
And at no season, safe perhaps in Daffodil time, do we get such superb colour effects as from August to November."
- Rose G. Kingsley, The Autumn Garden



The 1st of each month is Garden Blogger Muse Day at Sweet Home and Garden Chicago, hosted by Carolyn Gail. Visit her to see more garden blogger musings!

Goblins and Pumpkins and Snakes, Oh My!

What scares you? Scarecrows? Angry Jack-o-lanterns? Graveyards? Adolescent Boys?



None of the above are frightening, although the latter have been known to give a parent their fair share of concern!

What about snakes? Did I say snakes?



This juvenile Black Rat Snake made an appearance this evening. He's trying to look scary for Halloween. Really, he's quite harmless, but can fool predators when he needs to. Just look at that face, that mouth wide open with hissing tongue. He's not poisonous and will not bite unless provoked. He will grow up to be as long as 8 feet and will eat small rodents such as mice, chipmunks, bats...even squirrels.

Little boys and Black Rat snakes are equally harmless...although, snakes won't turn your hair gray and give you wrinkles from worry.

Happy Halloween my friends.

Garden Bloggers Operation Christmas Child

It's not yet Halloween, but that hasn't stopped FlowerGardenGirl (Anna) from thinking ahead to Christmas. 

She is sponsoring Garden Bloggers Operation Christmas Child.  If you are a garden blogger, this activity is counting on you for its success!  If you aren't a garden blogger, or you don't blog at all, please consider participating as well, in this very worthy cause:  the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child headquartered out of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Anna writes: "Every year they collect shoeboxes filled with items appropriate for little boys and girls and then deliver them to needy children all over the globe. It is a massive operation and not one penny goes to waste."

Please visit Anna and donate to help make some special children very happy this Christmas.