Some Pretty Leaves & a Little Doggie Drama

It doesn't seem to matter where you look - it's all simply gloriously beautiful.  While there are some Norway Maples that are completely green and the oaks are still steadfastly holding onto their leaves - this really is the beginning of the end of the fall colour in this area - so while it's still brilliant I'm going to give you a walking tour through the neighbourhood and my garden. 

 Down at the Lake many owners are planting grasses.  Some of the varieties would be quite invasive further south.  However, here there are few that actually seed themselves.

These are the colours I'm trying to fix in my mind ahead of our winter of grey.

 You can see here in the leash-free area - there are many trees that are bare now.

 Back in my own garden, I'm surprise to see just how magnificent my Lilium looks.

If I could find wool this colour, I'd knit myself Calycanthus florida mitts.

Really contrasty, but yet another reason to grow Hydrangea quercifolia.

 This is the Japanese Maple by the dining room.  It was only about a meter high when I got it - nothing like a tree to show you how old you're getting.

Just to give you an idea of where everything is living - you can see the maple again at the left of the photo - and the Calycanthus in the bed to the right.  Don't know who put all those leaves on my lawn.....

Two days ago, I was doing a forced march down to the lake hoping to capture the Lake with the cool light.  Remembered the words of my photo teacher Theresa Forte - "don't forget to turn around now and again - you may find the better picture".  While it isn't the most remarkable photo in the world - it really does give an impression of what the colour of light was like that morning.

And alas, this is what it was like at Lake Ontario.    Always beautiful....but where's the light?

Had I been there a little earlier, this could have been a little better.

 Does this tree/shrub ring a bell for anyone?  Really like the shape of its leaves.

 I wish I had room for one of these - Cercidiphyllum japonicum.  Adorable when small - awe inspiring when full grown.  When you stand beneath the tree, it looks like thousands of chains of green hearts.  The fall colour is impressive as well.

A species clematis I'm trying to make mind up about.  At this moment, with these seeds, I'm willing to grant it a reprieve for next year.

 Kolkwitzia 'Dream Catcher'.  The blooms so far have been quite insignificant - and I'm not sure having yellow leaves makes up for that loss - sort of a sad sack sister of a Beauty Bush.  However, I'm liking its form and colour.  Perhaps another year in the garden?

I probably leave my hosta a bit too long in the fall garden - but when I see how pretty so many of them are right now, I'm willing to yank slimy leaves in November.

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The totally cool Hamamelis - psychedelic in the autumn - shows up to bloom in March on St. Paddy's day with snow on the ground.  A shrub that marches to the beat of its own drum.



The Perilla had been very late to set seed.  Do hope they mature in time for next year.  It is so gorgeous in the flower garden and one of the worst tasting herbs on the planet. 

This is a building lot in the neighbourhood.  Fingers crossed that this tree figures large in the plans.

More scrummy colour.

And finally, the doggie drama - leave now if dogs are not your thing!  Bart and I went off to the vet for his annual shots.  He was full of trepidation and extremely nervous.  Unlike my old Saints who were smart enough, he seems to remember almost everything - and the visits to the vets have not been pleasant.

So, after being completely spoiled (in between pokes, shots and prods he was given "pate - rhymes with okay!" on a Popsicle stick.  One of the shots was a new rabies shot that last for 3 years.  So, after getting one last tablespoon of fancy doggie food, it was off the table and out of the office. 

I promised I'd lash myself to a tree and show you the waves - sadly not that spectacular - but the winds were gusty enough to move the camera around.  Headed out of the harbour was a fellow for one last sail - probably a day you dream about if you're a sailor - so many of the boats have been hauled out by now.  Just so you know - the brown in the water is from the red clay of the soil.  We'd had rain the night before - hence the gunky looking water at the mouth of 16 Mile Creek.

Here's the walkway we took down to the water - you'd never know how windy it was looking in this direction.

Thanks for humouring me - more sail boat - working on my zoom.  Obviously more work to do, but getting better.

And here we are, standing on the best skipping stones in the world ready to go back to the car.

At home, I noticed that Bart was not himself.  Put his head down in his basket and wouldn't lift it for TURKEY.  Kevin picked him up and he gave a huge yelp.  It seemed that his stomach, legs, shoulder were all tender to the touch.  Holding him he just shuddered.   He was making the most mournful little dog noises.  So, I called the vet - got the receptionist - she called Dr. Warren - seems that Bart was having a reaction to his shot.  We met Dr. Warren at his office with poor little Bart.  After two more shots - and another spoonful of fancy pate - we were on our way.  By 10:00 he seemed to be in less pain and had started to sleep.  This morning he was my constant office companion - by noon he was starting to defend the house.  Called Dr. Warren this am to say all was well and he was on the mend.  Wonder if they make Medic Alert bracelets for dogs?

 Bart after his rough night.