Ginkgo Gold

On a sunny afternoon, the leaves of a ginkgo take on a ravishing range of golden tones. The only tree with truly fan shaped leaves, they flutter and twist but, at the moment, hold fast to their branches. When the time comes, all those little yellow fans seem to come to a remarkable agreement.  It’s not unusual to pass a gold-crowned tree one morning and then, within a day or two, discover those leaves forming a bright carpet under the nearly-bare tree. Ginkgos can be unusually decisive.

 

Chrysanthemums

 This is the time when tired gardens need a boost. Late-blooming chrysanthemums have been lurking under and behind the summer flowers for some time. They now have buds that are opening. I am not a fan of the too-sturdy and stiff varieties that are sold in pots, fully blooming. Instead, give me these daisy-like chrysanthemums. They fit in nicely with the grasses and remaining seed heads in gardens meant to sustain the birds and insects. Best of all, they come in whole range of colors, yellow, pink, orange and russet, echoing the changing leaves overhead.