Leaf-watching

Cherry tree, Nov. 15th

In Japanese archipelago which is long south to north, autumn foliage season 

starts around mid-September in the high mountains of northern Hokkaido and gradually 

moves to lower elevation and more southern latitudes.

It's peak usually reaches both Kanto (including Tokyo) and Kansai 

(including Kyoto and Nara) regions in the latter half of November and 

continues into early to mid-December.

Now in the latter half of November, coloring is delayed due to the severe,

long lingering summer heat into early November.

And besides, deadly heat of mid-summer made some of trees lose leaves before coloring. 

However, I do love the leaves which have changed colors very slow but steady.

They are not overwhelmingly gorgeous but beautiful with the muted tone of various colors.

  Cherry Trees (the first four images) have displayed soft green, yellow, orange, 

and reddish orange at the same time. 

People love their blossoms in spring, Sakura, but their autumn foliage is not so popular 

as Japanese Maple, Ginkgo, or Chinese Tallow leaves.

It's a shame. Cherry Tree blooms twice a year in spring and in autumn.

Chinese Tallow is one of my favorite trees for its heart or spade-shaped leaves 

and the flamboyant display of colors.

Nov. 15th

The strong wind of yesterday blew off most of the leaves and seeds covered

in the layer of white wax remain.

Nov. 19th

This is Crape myrtle, which I once featured in Autumn colors of Crape myrtle.

Nov. 3rd

The last leaves of the Crape myrtle caught my eye.

Nov. 19th

Tulip poplar, Liriodendron tulipifera, changes colors as early as September

and is usually bare in the beginning of November, but green to yellow leaves 

were still dancing on top branches.  

Nov. 3rd

The top part of the quite tall tree receives the last rays of the sun.

Dogwood leaves start changing colors the first among all the deciduous trees.

In my garden, they reached prime time in early November.

Nov. 3rd

The following four photos are the leaves of 南天 Nanten, Nandina domestica.

The tree is believed to bring good fortune when planted in the northeast, "demon's gate".

Nov. 11th

I love the bright red berries and the deep green leaves on the upright shrub.

I had thought my Nanten was evergreen, though learned it "semi-evergreen"

when I found reddish leaves for the first time since we planted it in our garden.

I don't know the science behind the sudden change.

As you see the photo, leaves are mostly green and a little of red is seen 

in the blurred background.

  

Colored Nanten tinted gold with Dogwood in the background.

On November 7th, it was recorded the highest November temperature in 100 years.

Five days later, winter chill suddenly gripped most of Japan.

 I had repeated "too warm" so often and now I miss those warm days.

I was shivering in 6 degrees C yesterday.

As the temperature goes down, Japanese maples are speeding up their coloring.

Nandina, Cherry tree, Chinese Tallow, and Tulip poplar

Linked to Mosaic Monday