CHANGES ... IN TIME, TEMPERATURE & COLOR

It's mid-November here in central Arkansas & the seasonal changes are in full effect, despite the temperature being almost 80 degrees today.  Apparently Mother Nature knows the calendar is closing in on Winter, even if some of the weather conditions are trying to mask such knowledge.

For the past few days, despite the above-normal temperatures, the trees, bushes & other plantings on my property are starting to shed their leaves, change their colors & show all the effects of the Fall calendar.  These days have been helped along by very strong winds -- 20-30 MPH -- helping to shake loose not only the leaves but acorns & seeds, along with various size sticks & tree branches.  It is sometimes dangerous to be outside, being exposed to these falling elements.

I am always impressed with the changes occurring to the vegetation on my land.  It is this time of year when these changes stand out & highlight the fact there are many "micro-climates" on the property, which occur, often within short distances of each other.  These small areas can have different effects on the very same species of tree or plant, causing them to have different shapes & colors, despite being the same plant family & in close growing proximity.

The above tree has the name: Parrotia Persia. I don't know of a "common name".  If someone asks me about it, I have to look up the name in my planting records. That request happens so seldom, I can never remember off-hand the tree's name.

I ordered three "Parrotias" in the Spring of 1999 from the White Flower Farm in Connecticut.  The trees arrived in large boxes, since the trees themselves were over six foot in height.  However, whoever packed the trees initially did not secure the trees within the boxes & all three suffered top damage due to the handling of the boxes in transit. [I certainly complained to the White Flower Farm at the time & have not ordered from them since, due to their attitude in hearing my "suggestions" for future packing of trees of such size.]

I planted the three trees at various places within my four acres of land.  The "damages" to the trees did not seem to effect two of the trees & they proceeded to grow.  The third tree "struggled" despite my efforts & died in the second year it was in the ground ... naturally, beyond the warranty provided by the White Flower Farm.

The above photo shows the second "Parrotia".  The photos were taken minutes apart & visually show the difference each location has on the color, shape & growth of the two trees. The tree above has already changed color & the growth through the seasons is more compact than that of the former tree, which due to it's location, is still green & has a taller growth.

The "location" reflects on the amount of light received along with the temperatures of the growing area, both of which are keyed by the other plantings around each tree, the amount of wind & breezes they receive in each area, as well as the water the earth absorbs.  All these elements are part of the "micro-climates" for each tree & other planting of a similar nature here on my land.

A few other examples of how the landscape is changing.  In the photo above, the dropped leaves on the tree now expose the only greenery left on the branches, which in this example is Mistletoe.  Merry Xmas.

The new Black Bamboo shoots in my garden arrive in the Spring with a bright green color when emerging from the ground.  By Fall, after a full growing season, the Bamboo changes color & earns it's given name as shown above.

As Fall advances & Winter soon returns, more changes will occur at my small homestead.  I'll be sure to keep everyone aware & up-to-date.