The season turns: first light frosts

The first light frosts are bringing this growing season to its end. Some grasses have long ago turned to shades of orange, brown, gold and yellow; others are still green. The big perennials--Silphium, Inula, Rudbeckia maxima, Vernonia, Joe Pye Weed--are now becoming sculpture; their dark, leaden-brown structures will last through most of winter.Above and below, looking out from the narrow terrace outside the house, the main part of the garden is invisible. 

Descending into the main garden, you're immersed in the plantings.  It's a dramatic transition, a sudden change in scale. The garden "swallows" you, many plants are taller than you, as you wander along corridors and paths that open, then close views, and create new smaller, multilayered, textured scenes. It's like descending into a crater, with a giant circle of sky above.I emptied the pond of water (below) so we can clean out the plant growth and put in a bottom liner. Not to better hold water (the heavy clay does that well) but to prevent plant growth. Next year, I want a clear expanse of water to contrast with the riotous growth surrounding it. 

Extraordinarily beautiful foliage of Silphium laciniatum, a study in shape and texture. Note the fine hairs lit by the morning sun.

 Remnants of Sanguisorba canadensis by the pond.

Colors slowly developing in a mixed planting--Viburnum, Aster tartaricus in yellow, Silphium perfoliatum in black, Iris pseudacorus still green.

 Contrast in shape, line, texture and color.An almost hidden room ...

... a wall ...

...  Aster tartaricus 'Jin Dai'--its foliage turns yellow then, as temperatures dip deeper, develops leaves of burnished orange.

Miscanthus and Rudbeckia maxima seedheads ...If my garden is a pean to seasonal change, this autumn shows how autumns can differ. The autumn garden usually has a colorful understory, but not this year. A summer of torrential rains, four to six inches each week, for many weeks, crushed the layers of smaller plants, which usually add  variety in color and texture. But on the whole, the garden demonstrated amazing resilience. Today was like walking in clouds.