The second act of Autumn expressed itself this week in the color of tree and bush leaves at 7,000 feet.  Berries and fruit are a big part of nature's play as well.  After two frosts this week, leaves are turning more rapidly, as the gold and orange in the mountains quickly disappear.  Soon, snow will replace the in-between, monochromatic palette. It is time to take joy in the little and bold surprises that show themselves.

Birds have been quite active, eating and storing berries and nuts for winter, and even after frost, all sorts of insects are still in residence.  The berries of the Rhus aromatica or aromatic sumac below show hints of fall color, along with insects dining on them.  

flowers and plants - Rhus aromatica 2026

I discovered a few things while photographing this week.  There are rose hips all over our rose bushes, but there were groups of crabapples that look like rose hips on a tree in the neighborhood.  Their beautiful burnished red is a rare and calming color.  The reason they look like rose hips is that all apples - both domesticated and crabapples - belong to the Rosaceae family.  

Trees - crabapple 1 Santa Fe, NM 2026 Trees - crabapple 3 Santa Fe, NM 2026

Although the eastern United States are known more for red autumn color, several places in the Southwest have groves of maple and oaks blasting color during the autumn months.  One is Fourth of July Canyon south of Albuquerque and another is south of Salt Lake City in Utah.  Having been to neither of those, I still have the opportunity to enjoy a local maple tree that is showing myriad oranges and reds at this stage.

trees - maple leaves 1 2026 trees - maple leaves 3 2026 trees- maple leaves 2 2026

It was wonderful to hear from so many of you last week, including Tim A., Christina W., Jean & Sam, Marilyn G., Bill P., Jim & Louise, TTT, Gustavo, Ingrid, Victoria, M. F. B, Rebecca, Carolyn S., and Steve.

I hope everyone is able to find and embrace the colors that make Act II of autumn special!

until next Monday,

DB

a passion for the image©