— Scott LaFleur, Horticulture and Botanic Garden Director

Asters are for autumn

Dancing in the sun

Costumes are for Halloween

Dressing up is fun

Fall is when trees take theirs off

Showing colors to everyone

         — A little ditty I composed for my daughter about leaves changing

Throughout the growing season, trees, shrubs, and perennials hide their true colors behind a mask of chlorophyll. As the season draws to an end and the days become shorter, the plants know the party’s over. They begin to lose their chlorophyll costume and reveal the colors that have been there all summer long.

Summer into Fall

Many changes occur in the leaves of deciduous trees before they finally fall from the branch. The leaf has actually been preparing for autumn since it started to grow in the spring. At the base of each leaf is a special layer of cells call the "abscission" or separation layer. All summer, small tubes that pass through this layer carry water into the leaf and food back to the tree.

In the fall, the cells of the abscission layer begin to swell and form a cork-like material that reduces and finally cuts off flow between leaf and tree. Glucose and waste products are trapped in the leaf. Without fresh water to renew it, chlorophyll begins to disappear. This disappearance of chlorophyll allows the leaves to reveal the beautiful reds, yellows, and oranges that were present but masked by chlorophyll.

At the Garden

This is one of my favorite times here at Garden in the Woods. Finally things are feeling a little less frantic and I can really enjoy a walk in the garden. I do not feel the pressure of spring and preparing for the big party, nor do I feel the need to keep everything primped, proper, and perky as I do in the dog days of August. As the last gasp of the season exhales in deep reds, outrageous oranges, shimmering yellows, and the finality of brown, I can reflect on the successes of  the season, make note of the mistakes, and propel my thoughts to the season of hope that spring  brings.

Don’t miss your chance to reflect on the wonderful season the Garden has enjoyed. Take a stroll to say goodbye to the BIG BUGS sculptures and view the Garden and the plants in a whole different light. The beautiful reds of the swamp maples (Acer rubrum) behind the pond. The cheery yellows of the yellow and white birch (Betula alleghaniensis and papyrifera) light your way as you cross the esker into laurel bend. Gazing skyward to catch the patchwork red, yellow, and orange will reward you with magnificent views.

But. . . keep an eye out for the smaller wonders of the season as well. The stiff bristly aster (Lonactis linariifolius) in the lily pond rock garden is beautiful and tough. Growing in dry rocky and difficult situations, this plant works very hard to reward us with its cheery little smile. The willow leaf amsonia (amsonia hubrichtii)  turns a majestic burgundy color as the panicles of the Chasmaithium latifolium glisten in the golden setting sun. The interrupted fern (Osmunda claytonia) along the limestone/acid walk looks like the sun crashed into the black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata) and exploded.

And finally, the setting sun dances through the seed heads of the meadow, generating a glow that warms from the outside in.