Look at the Leaves: What a Difference a Week Makes!

If you're like me, you anticipate each fall, when the leaves begin to change colors with the cooler weather.

We gauge each year's timing on how far along our giant maple trees are by Halloween. Some years, they've dropped their golden mantle and dozens of leaf bags have been filled, long before the end of October.

Not this year.

The warmer temperatures have kept the leaves on the trees for a few additional weeks. And in some cases, they've just begun to change.

My Japanese maples became electric shades of crimson over the past few days. One tall variety was mostly green with tinges of pink and orange on Nov. 1. But yesterday, it had turned a deep, blazing orange, mixed with red and set-off by contrasting charteuse-colored branches.

The ginko in my backyard was almost all green, with a hint of yellow, at the beginning of last week. Now, pale yellow and gold leaves barely have a few flecks of green in them.

I've taken photos to show this past week's colorful variations. As I took at them, the last crickets were still chirping as the breeze made a soft rustling sound above.

In just a few days, the wind will help the trees shed these bright cloaks and their bare branches will await winter's chill.

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