lacey leaves (fcp)

"Light...the soul and medium of art"...John Constable

leaves...

Hey, I have a master gardener question for you. My Bradford Pear still has a lot of green leaves on it, but most of the leaves that have fallen have these AWESOME designs on them. How does that happen? It looks like they have been imprinted somehow. Also, got any tips for preserving leaves? I have them falling out of most every book I own. I just hate seeing them dry up and shrivel out on the lawn, so I gather them in an attempt to preserve them (and prolong the season). I've tried putting them between sheets of wax paper inside the books, but really can't tell a difference in color than when I just stick them in between the pages. Maybe the real key is how much weight is on the pages? How glossy the pages are? How long they have been in the books? any ideas?
"I don't mind the leaves that are leaving, just the ones that have been here before"...Piglet (from A.E. Milne's Winnie the Pooh as he attempted to sweep leaves off his walkway)

inspired by nature II

As I passed by the stone walk and glanced down at these leaves, I was inspired by how nature had arranged them. Just for me. How could I resist painting them? fcp

"October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came-
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band."
- George Cooper, October's Party

Fall Out II

Don't you get the feeling that trees somehow know how beautiful they are this time of year? It is as if they understand that this is their big fashion statement of the year...especially maples. fcp

"The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry's cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I'll put a trinket on."
- Emily Dickinson

autumn leaves

It's October...already???
"Autumn~ the year's last, loveliest smile"...William Cullen Bryant