The fall colors have been at their peak this past week at the Garden.  Between bright contrasty light and several days of gray, rainy weather, it's been hard to capture the colors at their best.  On the days when landscape shots were less than ideal, I tried to capture some smaller, more intimate garden scenes, eliminating the grey sky altogether. I love the benches of the Garden and decided it would be fun to start a whole series of images of my favorite spots to sit in the Garden. 

English Walled Garden in Fall Garden Bench in Fall The colors of the Japanese Islands are always beautiful. I love the many shades of green mixed with the reds, yellow and oranges of fall. 

Japanese Islands in Fall Japanese Garden in Fall One of my favorite views in fall is of Spider Island with its yellow birches and all the surrounding colorful maples. If the water is calm enough you get beautiful reflections in the water.    Color of Fall Spider Island in Fall I love that nature gives us this dazzling display of color before the whites and greys of winter appear.  Even though we all complain about the long Chicago winters, I wouldn't trade the change of seasons - the exhilaration of spring and fall, the lushness of summer are all appreciated so much more after or in anticipation of a long winter.  Winter brings its own unique beauty and peacefulness. Let's just hope it's not so bitterly cold this winter that we can get out and enjoy the beauty of winter. Meanwhile, I'll focus on enjoying every last moment of nature's bold display of color, the crispness in the air and the crunch of leaves under my feet.