After the Rain

The air is so sweet and clean after the rain, the forest is bright and freshly scrubbed.

Below: A last stalwart of summer, a Sunflower, shows the melting effects of the rain showers.

Below: Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria, AKA Common Smoketree, AKA Smokebush Anacardiaceae)
This little plant was nearly wiped out by hungry deer and look at it now... Since the leaves had to re-grow mid-season, they aren't turning the nice mauves and purples in fall but I think they will. Just wait 'till next year...

Below: My lovely baby Golden Larch tree. It has put on about 18" this year and is now glowing gold and green. I really like this tree! And the deer do not.

Below: Our native Black Evergreen Huckleberry, Vaccinium ovatum, with it's cute unripe berries. The foliage becomes bronzy in the cold season. It's a very subtle palette. I would love to find a way to get these colors into the decor of the interior of the house. I see burgundy, gold, purple, and of course that green. It's such a pretty plant. My camera is not doing it justice.