Welcome Fall!

I am declaring this a Sweetgum, but will welcome an expert opinions!

At Last!

Fall, we've been waiting for you.

Fall in the Gardens

Yes, it gets really hot a humid here in the summer but you can't beat the rest of the year in Birmingham. Taken just a week ago, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens was still lush , despite no rain, and gorgeous at the end of September!

Close to Home

When I arrived Friday from Paris, I was thrilled to see that Birmingham still had fall color for me. This is on Cliff Road in the Forest Park neighborhood, near my home. 

Fall Reflections

Railroad Park

Birmingham Rouge - Japanese Maples

Fall is finally showing her stuff in Birmingham although most of our trees are just thinking about changing colors. I did a little walk about at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens this week and found this glorious Japanese Maple at Leaf 'n Petal's garden shop there.

To Everything - Turn, Turn, Turn

All summer these gorgeous oak leaf hydrangeas bloom with huge white blossoms. Now they die back for the winter. I think they are still beautiful in their own way.

To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven

Seger, Sullivan and Peterik

Getting Corny

It's fall ya'll and I'm getting corny. Forgive me but there will be more!

Oak Street Garden Shop

115 Oak Street

Crestline Village

Under the Red Umbrella

Here in the Deep South, autumn takes its sweet time getting here. We like it that way. Yesterday I sat under the Adams' red umbrella in the still warm October sun and admired their gorgeous garden. The Mexican sunflowers are glorious right now. They will die out soon and make way for the  autumn leaves to put on their show.  Everything has its own season.

Au revoir...

Our hydrangeas as leaving us.  Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Fabulous Fall Part II

Gallery 1930 shares a space with Vino in English Village and with our glorious fall weather, they both offer outdoor seating.

50 Shades of Grey??

Well not really but I find the new breed of pumpkins that are offered at the Finley Avenue Farmer's Market pretty amazing. These were too good to pass up, dirt and all.

Summer's Last Roses

Thank you to my friend Cathy, who graciously allowed me to photograph the last of her heirloom roses last week. I will look forward to photographing them again next summer.  For now,  I'm thinking these fading blossoms will be hard to top!

Bragging Rights

Admittedly I took this about a week ago ( picture more leaves on the ground), but our weather here in Birmingham has been pretty great considering it's the middle of November.  Aside for a few chilly days, we are still enjoying some fine fall weather in shirt sleeves/sweaters and for some....running shorts. Another reason I love where I live!

A Pumpkin Farewell

Today we bid a fond farewell to all things pumpkin.  This last photograph is courtesy of my neighbors who live across the street and had this charming array of pumpkins in their yard. Tuesday the tree had turned just the perfect color and I took a few steps up in my yard and caught it.  Around Birmingham, Christmas decorations are showing up at an alarming rate.  I won't knuckle under to peer pressure!!! I have Black Friday to get through with my new job. Wish me bonne chance!

Oh, and might I add a big WAR EAGLE!!!

Orange and Blue

I don't think it can get much more fabulous here.  Birmingham welcomes autumn........finally!  Oh, and it's SEC football season,  a coincidence???