Oatmeal, wheat, cream, butter, apricot and celery...No, I'm not writing a bizarre recipe, or my weekly grocery list! These are some of the subtle colours of the Autumn palette. While vivid yellows, oranges, reds and maroons dominate the Fall palette (see archives Autumn is Awesome 23/10/2017), the nuanced beiges, creams, pale pinks and soft greens have a quiet splendor all their own.
Often the subdued colours, are needed to balance the more vibrant colours, so that they actually stand out. The image of apples piled in a basket in front of a neighbourhood street market (above), would be boring, if only bright red apples were in the photo. Try covering up all of the apples, except for the three red ones in the centre. Now, show the whole photo. As my Dad used to say, "how d'ya like them apples"!
One of my favourite flowers is Hydrangea. The bright blue and pink plants begin appearing in grocery stores in time for Easter and Mothers' Day. By June, the annuals in the garden are bursting with blossoms of azure, violet, light blue, baby pink, deep pink, and red plum. As Fall approaches, the blossoms lighten, even turning to a light celery green colour.
This beautiful, cream-coloured blossom (below), with just a hint of soft green, is a perfect example of the true Hydrangea blossom. The true flower is the tiny white blossom within the centre of the four petals. It's the first time I've seen one...nevermind all the others blooming around it!
The Chicago Peace tearose which has bloomed throughout the Summer on my balcony, is blooming for the last time this year. After four waves, or flushes, it is saying farewell in style. The final blooms are softer shades of apricot, pink and butter cream: the colours of the sunrise on a sombre grey morning.
Speaking of mornings, the breakfast shades of oatmeal, wheat and toast are everywhere at this time of year. Bright yellow, black and white pop against the muted grey, brown and pumpkin colours of this Painted Lady butterfly.
Ornamental grasses, blowing in the October wind, gleam on a sunny afternoon. Feather Reedgrass looks a little like Prairie wheat. It's nature's weather vane, wafting in a light breeze, or bending in a storm - and it is hardy in a harsh Winter climate.
There's another plant, which gently sways with the wind...often mistakenly called Pampas Grass, the tall oatmeal-white Ravenna Grass (below), is not native to Argentina. It's a Mediterranean plant. Ravenna Grass is a hardy, and vigorously spreading plant, that is classified as an unwanted, noxious weed in some parts of the US. Which is ironic, considering that the Italian city of Ravenna has no less than eight United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Oranization (UNESCO) World Heritage sites! How d'ya like them apples?!
As always, beautiful photos and text! Thanks for sharing!
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