How to Make the Fall Colors Last

As I move through peak fall season, a growing sadness descends and I start to get depressed thinking that the beautiful colors won’t last. Fortunately, even though it’s peak leaf time in Metuchen, my yard tends to have its best color a week or two later, extending my fall season just a little. Above, my Japanese red maple gets beautiful fall color, even prettier than it’s spring show, which is also amazing.

My Greenspire linden has turned a bright yellow color. It’s funny because when I first planted this tree, the fall color wasn’t very impressive. But I’ve noticed that as the tree gets older, the fall color has gotten so much prettier! Don’t know if that’s a function of where the tree is planted, the luck of the climate or a normal characteristic of linden trees, but I love it!

It’s also possible that trees that have been recently transplanted are under greater stress, delaying a beautiful fall show. This tree has been in this spot for 12 years.

The burning bush at the side of our house has been there since the previous owners lived here. It was a huge plant when we moved here 13 years ago. It’s a huge plant. A family of rabbits lives under there somewhere I think.

I’ve been blogging about my dogwood’s fall color for a more than a month! That tree is amazing. It has a long and storied history of disease, treatment and success!

On the right, my sugar maple is at peak fall color. On the right, the Bradford pears have not even begun to change; we’ll still be raking in December.

One of my favorite things about fall is seeing the show from the windows of my house.

I take pictures because once we’ve move into stick season, I’ll visit my blog and remember the rich colors of fall. But, no need to be depressed yet: the Japanese red maple and Greenspire linden are still a beautiful pair.