Given the uneven and yet heavenly weather week we have had in New Mexico this week, I knew another autumnal blog was in the offing.  Some plants, shrubs, and trees have shed all their leaves, while others are still undergoing the change.  Looking up one can see trees in almost every possible variation of yellow, bronze, orange and red, and, at the same, feel leaves floating gently onto your head.  It is magical.    

The sycamore tree shown in the next two images has been waiting for me to photograph it for several weeks, as I waited to catch it at a good time. Too many leaves, and the glowing bark is hard to see. Too late, and the leaves will have disappeared.  This week was a good one for achieving a balance with this extraordinary specimen.  

Trees - sycamore 1 Santa Fe 2026

The shadows on the garden wall display their own geometry.
Trees - sycamore 2 Santa Fe 2026

A good example of all the leaves turning different colors at the same time is this small sumac sucker.  A youngster from a larger tree, it could hardly be any more dramatic.  

Trees - sumac Santa Fe 2026
 

There are seed pods and berries apparent everywhere during these last weeks of autumn.  The red trumpet vine has large, polished seed pods that carry something similar to the patina of a fine hardwood.

Flower and plants - trumpet vine seed pods Santa Fe 2026

And thanks to a magnificent hawthorn tree, its leaves of many colors and berries made the perfect still life subject.  Thanks, TTT!
 

Still life - hawthorne tree 1 Medanales, NM 2026

Thanks to Jean and Sam, Marilyn G., Kay C., Terry T., Christina W., Ingrid, Gustavo, Victoria, TTT, Louise & Jim, Steve, Cathrine, Brenda, Anne O., Christina W., and Marilyn R. for taking time out of your busy days to write this week!  It is always wonderful to have feedback on the blog.  

My hope is that each of you has magic in your lives this week!

until next week,

DB

a passion for the image©