Under the trees, you’ll find the speckled purple toad lily and the soft lavender of asters. As you make your way up the hill to the visitor’s parking lot, notice how the drooping hydrangea blooms perfectly complement the peeling bark of paperbark maple. Come, enjoy a crisp autumn day in paradise!

UPDATED: Unforunately, the fall display of the Japanese maple is mostly over, but there are plenty of other beautiful colors in the landscape right now – sourwood, viburnum, beech, for example.

You’ll want to come to the Winterthur Garden this week to see this amazing cut-leaf Japanese Maple at Magnolia Bend. It is at peak color – a brilliant orange-red.  A similar maple lives at the visitor center, right near the shuttle ramp.  What fun!

The fall color seems to be quite amazing this year in Northern Delaware. What is your favorite plant for fall color where you garden?

I walked into the office this morning, put down my bag, grabbed a camera and almost ran back into the garden. The light was coming from behind the house and into the magnificent oak and tulip-poplar trees north of the conservatory and I wanted to capture the moment.  

The Winterthur Garden is at its fall peak right now. Come soon to enjoy a crisp day in the garden before the dreary days of November are upon us.  Beautiful leaves, colorful berries, late blossoms and interesting bark await you.

Here’s a map of where the best fall leaf color is right now: http://www.weather.com/maps/activity/fallfoliage/index_large.html

While you’re considering fall color, come next Wednesday when Ted Lewis, a specialist garden guide and master gardener will lead a walk at 11:30 and explain the science behind this beautiful time of year. What factors cause the leaves to change color?  Meet at the greenhouses and Ted will let you in on the magic of fall color.

What is your favorite time of year in the garden?  I’m torn between late April and the end of October. No need to choose! The Winterthur Garden is here all year for us to enjoy.