Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2021 SAUGUS GARDENS IN THE FALL Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener Y ou might not want to go for a walk with me at this time of year. I take about two steps and then stop and look at leaves on the walk ahead of me, get out my camera and take some pictures. Then I go just a few more steps and do it again! It takes a while to get anywhere. Fallen leaves create a beautiful collage on the pavement and lawn in every neighborhood. Often what I see on the ground makes me look up to see where the leaves came from since they may have blown from a tree in someone’s backyard I might not have noticed otherwise. Unlike last year, when Japanese maple leaves turned brown and clung to the trees well into winter, this year they are showing a more expected change from their summer leaf color to the vivid reds, yellows and oranges they are renowned for in Japan. Last year’s trouble was likely a combination of a very dry summer and the early frost in October. There are many varieties of Japanese maples around town. Most of them have reddish-burgundy leaf color in summer, but there are also some green leaved varieties. As for fall color, there may be many shades on the same individual tree. The Japanese maple beside the monument in Saugus Center has turned mostly yellow, but there are also some orange and red tones on branches that receive the most sunlight. ‘AUTUMN ROYALTY’ ENCORE AZALEA BLOOMS AGAIN: This variety from a line of azaleas bred to bloom in spring and fall seems undisturbed by the water droplets from thawing frost. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) FALLEN LEAVES AT THE ROTARY: Red Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) and yellow thornless honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos inermis) give plenty of contrast in shape and color. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) NATURE’S LEAF PRINTS appear on the sidewalk of Essex Street near Cliftondale Square. Here we see Norway maple (Acer platanoides) and silver maple (Acer saccharinum) foliage and the artwork created by rain and dust where leaves settled in the storm, then blew away. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) The most vivid red in the rotary right now is on the burning bush (Euonymus alata), a shrub that was very popular for its fall color for many years. Due to its invasive nature, nurseries in Massachusetts and many other states are no longer allowed to sell it. Heavy pruning helps reA DOUBLE ATTRACTION: The red of Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) and yellow of Norway maple (Acer platanoides) leaves provide primary colors on a Lynnhurst lawn. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) duce the development and spread of seeds. It was introduced from Asia in the mid19th century, and it can grow up to 15 feet tall. It is still commonly seen in many gardens and public areas, and while it is not very showy at other times of year, it is certainly hard to miss in the fall. If in a sunny location, the leaves are almost always fire engine red, GARDENS | SEE PAGE 9 Monogram D4 Double siding Cedar impression half rounds Harvey Vinyl 63 Replacement Windows Custom Aluminum Trim work Windows & Doors Top quality Vinyl Siding! •Vinyl Siding •Carpentry Work •Decks •Roofing •Free Estimates •Replacement Windows •Fully Licensed •Fully Insured
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