Call me morbid, call me pale (apologies to Morrissey), but it feels like a party on the brink of destruction out there today. This morning the low temperature was 39F/3.7C and right now it is 43F/5.9C, but there is a freeze warning for tonight. The sky has clouded over and the wind has picked up. But all around, the trees are flashing their brightest colors in years, dressed in their finest and dancing in a frenzy.
I can't recall the Oaks ever looking this red. This Oak is actually showing up a couple of Maples. The Chicago area is having a truly fantastic show this autumn.
I think today the color hit its peak. Compare this photo of Cornus 'Aurora' taken yesterday
with this photo I took this morning.
All around the garden things are going out in a blaze of glory:
Geranium maculatum
Polyganatum biflorum
Hammamelis x 'Sunburst'
Gillenia trifoliata and Hydrangea macrophylla 'Penny Mac'
Cotinus 'Nordine,' with from left, autumnal yellow foliage of Lobelia 'Monet Moment,' blooms of Geranium 'Rozanne,' Heuchera 'Lime Rickey,' and Alchemilla
The Magnolia is just beginning to turn, as are the Yellowwood and Cornus 'Beni Fuji.' I'll post photos of them later, as this post is about peak color as part of Dave at the Home Garden's Fall Color Project.