Midweek Musings #9 - Where are all the red leaves?
An avenue of Maples, Friday Fizz & Do you know where your stopcock is?
It’s been a hell of a week so far and we’re only half way through. In today’s Midweek Musings I’ll be talking about my foraging quest, revealing what I consider to be the best Maple tree to buy and plant in your garden, inviting you to a virtual Friday meet and, rather obscurely, telling you about the importance of your stopcock location. I can’t type stopcock without giggling, but believe me, after what happened at the barn on Monday, knowing its location is no laughing matter!
The week began with my quest for live branches of red autumn leaves for styling up at home. I also need them for various crafts that I want to show you so that you can have a go at home. Where the hell are they all? If you saw my reel on Instagram this week about the reality of autumn in the UK, as opposed to the romanticised Vermont ideal, then you’ll know that I’ve got a bit of a thing about it.
The classic British deciduous trees such as Oak, Horse Chestnut, Sycamore and Ash, are nearly all a deep, vibrant green during the summer months, which tend to then turn a yellow-brown come autumn, or just dry up to a crispy mess and drop to the forest floor. The only native maple is the Field Maple (Acer campestre), but all the ones I found were just going from green to yellow. I want colour! To be fair, it is a little early, but why oh why don’t we plant more Maples like they do in the States and Canada (Acer saccharum and Acer rubrum)? There’s nothing more magical than the kaleidoscope of colours they provide come autumn.