5th Week of Fall Colors: A Growing Gallery

I have to admit, the busier I get the more I start to wonder why I decided to do this project in the first place. Then I go outside, look around at the beauty of my favorite color palette, and all seems right with the world. The Facebook album I’ve been creating with these images, “2011 Fall Trees,” makes me so happy. Friend me on Facebook with a note about trees if you would like to see the full album. Once a week, I post the tree roundup in my blog. Click through to see this week’s shots.

Above, that’s Tommy’s Pond in the background of this young white oak by Lake Avenue in Metuchen.

I waited too late in the day to get my tree shot on Oct. 22 so Greg and I set out on a nighttime adventure to shoot leaves with an off-camera flash. This red maple is behind St. Joe’s High School in Metuchen.

Sunday, Oct. 23: I had been waiting for the sugar maple by the First Presbyterian Church to change color and I really wanted the picture to appear on a Sunday. That’s just the relationship I have with this tree.

Oct. 24: When I first woke up on this Monday morning, all I wanted to do was keep my eyes shut. Hours later, I was walking by a red maple tree looking up at the leaves when I noticed one falling away. So I followed it. As long as I stood there in the breeze, the leaf never touched the ground. Instead it posed, waiting for me to acknowledge how grateful I was for the incredible array of colors offered to me today once my eyes were open.

Oct. 25: A photoshoot at the arboretum in Holmdel Park resulted in a game of “Cover Julie With Leaves.” (One of the most fun photoshoots EVER!)

Oct. 26: As I was taking this picture, a crotchety old man said, “There’s no color this fall.” So I said, “Yes there is! Look right there!” And he said, “That’s not very much.” It’s good enough for me.

Oct. 27: This is that beautiful yellowwood tree planted by the Metuchen Garden Club at Tommy’s Pond. If you’re interested in photographing leaves and trees, be sure to go out in the rain. That’s the best time to get great close-ups of leaves.

Oct. 27: Bonus picture! My FB friend, Beth, tipped me about the beautiful red-leaved tree in her yard so I popped over this morning to take a look. Turns out it is a beautiful pink-flowering dogwood with red-wine fall leaves. Stunning! Thanks again, Beth.

Check back next week for more fall tree pictures, or friend me on Facebook with a note about trees so I can add you to my tree list.

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