Out in the glowing woods

Last weekend it was the perfect time for an outing in the woods; they are basking in the golden glow of the sugar maples these days (Acer saccharum).
Other trees foliage also contribute to a beautiful autumnal display: Fraxinus, Fagus, Carya, Juglans, Amelanchier, Prunus, while on the ground floor Thalictrum dioicum, Smilax, and Aralia nudicaulis foliage reflect the same golden colour.

Acer saccharum – Sugar maple, rock maple

Here and there, attractive ‘candies’ of various species can still be enjoyed:  Viburnum acerifolium,  Maianthemum species, Euonymus obovatus and Smilax herbacea. Others, like those of Amphicarpaea bracteata are not that visible, and you need a sharp eye to find them.

It is also a good time to reflect at the natural associations of these woodland species; we can easily reproduced them in the garden. Amphicarpaea flowering stems were threading over Euonymus obovatus (featured image), Hepatica americana and a nearby Smilax; notice the beautiful clump of Hepatica americana surrounded by the dry foliage of Uvularia grandiflora and the Maianthemum berries shining through Thalictrum dioicum foliage.

Some of these ‘candies’ are already in the shop.
New ones were just added:
Amphicarpaea bracteata
Zizia aurea
Lobelia siphilitica
Lilium michiganense

For the moist packed category in quite small quantities this year: Maianthemum canadense, M. racemosum, M. stellatum and Polygonatum pubescens.

*Native species wise, there will be more seeds to come; the collection goes on until the end of the month. Most species are listed on the Seeds List and will be posted after the seeds are collected and sorted out.