With winter approaching faster than I think we’d care to admit at this point, we take every opportunity we can in the fall to spend time out in the yard and on our patio, soaking up the last of the sun. One of the things I love the most about our time out in the backyard is seeing how our plants and trees have evolved throughout the seasons. The color begins with a bang the moment our pink rhododendron blooms in early June. Then, the English garden roses, peonies, lavender, and hydrangeas pick up where the rhododendron leaves off, and provide lovely focal points throughout the height of the summer. And while we certainly love the vivacious, plentiful blossoms of summer, I find that we end up savoring the hardy fall blooms even more as we watch them hold on through those first mild frosts. The antique pink leaves of our Quick Fire hydrangea, the second round of the David Austin roses, or the aptly named Autumn Joy sedums are the plants we keep cutting for as long as we can, to bring inside the house.

I shot these photographs before this past week’s storm hit, and though we’re down a few more branches and there’s a little more raking to do, this is largely the view I hope we have a chance to savor just a little bit longer this month. Happy fall to you all!

Photos by Meredith Perdue for Map & Menu.