What’s your flavour?

The yellows of the silver birch, the ginkgo, and the field maple?

The oranges of the Japanese maple, the tulip tree, and the oak?

Or the reds of the cherry, the smokebush, the barberry, and the Virginia creeper?

If you’re like me, as the year comes to an end, you find yourself drawn to those deep russets, plums and reds — nature’s way of reflecting our own desire for grounding, nourishment, and restoration as we hunker down for winter after a busy year. It’s also a sign in the plant world that deep replenishment is underway: nitrogen is drawn back down into the roots, and what remains is this glorious red — the final flame before rest and renewal next spring.