Finally, it is Autumn in the Central Highlands

[bodhidharma]

I have taken these shots over the last two weeks and it has been a LATE, LATE Autumn. Some trees did not even bother and shed their leaves without change but some did the job nicely. Some Elms went buttercup yellow and some just shed their leaves. Anyway, here are a few and i hope you enjoy a late colouring job.

[Boics]

Twisted Hazel is an interesting tree Bodhi.

Can't say I've seen too many of these about..?

Some great colour in there and some beautiful specimens as well.

I still have an Acer Palmatum little group that is still absolutely green with no sign of autumn right now..!?
Most of my other tree's have either shed, beginning to shed or at the very least coloured.

This Palmatum group is very peculiar..
Of interest is the fact that another variety of Japanese Maple has near to completely shed it's leaves now.

[bodhidharma]

It has been a strange year to say the least Boics. I have noticed some strange changes in my trees of late. I think we will have to make adjustments in our future handling of our Bonsai. Have you had a frost where you are? That usually prompts them into colour.

[kcpoole]

Lovleey Bodhi, Not much colour for me so far
ginko going yellow slowly and virginia creeper is about it.

Ken

[Beano]

Oh wow, very nice! When you said central highlands, being a Queenslander I thought you were referring to Rockhampton/Emerald area, and was thinking how come they get Autumn and we don't!

[cre8ivbonsai]

Very nice Bodhi, I'd forgotten that Willows colour up as well, nice compensation for those freezing mornings

[Meagi]

on the E elm mate they look fantastic

[bodhidharma]

ginko going yellow slowly and virginia creeper is about it.

The creepers do wonderfully down here.

being a Queenslander I thought you were referring to Rockhampton/Emerald area, and was thinking how come they get Autumn and we don't!

I am not sure i would have owned up to that Beano

I'd forgotten that Willows colour up as well, nice compensation for those freezing mornings

Already had a few frosts Ryan..Brrrr.

on the E elm mate they look fantastic

Shame all the leaves will be gone by the time you visit.

[kcpoole]

took some photos of the colour here ( or what little we get )

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Ken

[bodhidharma]

As Shibui said about last nights rain..It has stripped a few trees of leaves so i will share while i still have some colour left.

[Matthew]

Real Nice Bodhi. What type of japanese maple is that under protection in 3rd pic half way along benches. Its lovely
My large garden ginko tree is the last tree to colour here . Maybe a week or two away yet. Its my favorite . I have a young zelcova in the garden but has coloured nothing like yours

[bamboos]

It's been a strange year alright ! Our magnolias have just finished flowering --- only about 4 months early
No other colour yet it seems to be one of those years where the trees just drop their leaves -- green then bare. But then again we don't really have winter or frosts
Steve

[Josh]

Some amazing colour Bodhi and lovely pics of your place. Must make a day and come visit. Mmmmm, note to self, change list of priorities and put Bodhi further up
I have a few trees changing. I have three tridents in the one pot. One has no leaves, one is yellow and the third is green I have no idea what they are doing.

Thanks for sharing.
Josh.

[Josh]

So here us my one only attempt at autumn colour.

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Not sure what the tree is as it was self seeded in another pot.

Josh.

[shibui]

One has no leaves, one is yellow and the third is green I have no idea what they are doing.

There are many factors that control autumn colour Josh. One the biggest influences is genetics. Your 3 maples are probably seedlings and though they have many genes in common they also have some unique ones because they are seedlings and have inherited different combinations of genes from their parents. I have a clump of 3 tridents formed by fusing 3 seedlings at the base. They always leaf out at different times and also change colour and drop leaves differently. The rest of the year you cannot see any difference but this is certainly a warning for growers who are thinking of grafting branches onto a tree or fusing trunks - cutting grown plants should ensure identical characteristics when you combine material.

Sometimes environment has a big influence on the trees. Here are 2 Chinese elms side by side. Both would be cuttings from the same source so should be genetically identical but this year they are reacting to autumn very differently. Is uspect that one has been a little drier or hungrier than the other and has changed quicker.