First Anniversary of Blooming Friday! Smith College Chrysanthemum Show

It is the first anniversary of Katriana's Blooming Friday! I am offering a tour of the Smith College Chrysanthemum Show on display inside the Lyman Plant House. Some of you have been wanting to see inside the plant house and here you go but in only two rooms. I will show you more on another post. I must confess to not being very fond of most Chrysanthemums, but this show does paint quite a colorful picture with varieties I have never seen. Some were absolutely lovely. I am also fascinated by their history and importance in other cultures especially the Japanese. The roses outside the plant house are for you Katarina ... in gratitude for your one year old creation. To see other blooms the world over go to Katarina's Roses and Stuff. Happy Anniversary!

Watery Wordless Wednesday Smith College Reflections III Gingko Wearing Golden Yellow

Another Wordless Watery Wednesday offering from Smith College over two different days. One wet and the other sunny with shadow plays under the Gingko tree. To see the Gingko tree wearing green go here. To see other participants please click on the words.

The Last to Fall

Sedum continues to bring 'Autumn Joy' contrasting nicely with yellows and oranges in leaves of roses, spirea and viburnum nearly let go now. Kousa Dogwood's mottled trunks frame purple Cotinus gone more red today, before dotted fruits of yellow crabapples. The dogwoods canopy another mixed palette of mauves, yellows and oranges fans out in the front garden concealing part of the barn studio. All these muted colors are the last to fall in the garden. Most let go while I was away... these shots were taken just over a week ago. Now there is a colorful carpet beneath all of the bare limbs of trees and shrubs. If you click on the images you will see the true unaltered vibrancy. 

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day Smith College Mostly Orange Focus

I am taking you all back to visit Smith College Botanical Gardens this Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. I love the contrast of the pink rose with the orange weeping Japanese Maple in the background. These pictures were taken the first week of November on a lovely sunny day. I do not know the name of the tree above the maple, but its leaves are striking with the maples different form, texture and value of orange.

The flames of orange sprays are vibrant next to the blue dwarf spruce and the green of the grass.

The purple asters too glow in the complimentary orange background wash of the Japanese Maple.

Smith's Botanical Gardens also offer a stunning rock garden ... here gentians are still blooming.

Lovely Autumn Crocus join in with their purple tones and dainty reaching stems... rather poetically.

To see other blooms from around the world visit Carol's May Dreams Gardens.