Devoid of the warm hues that earlier, kinder days had elicited, the leaves of our coral bark maple have faded to this pale echo of former glory. They go ghostly like this when the hard frosts begin to overtake the night. Some of our ferns do the same thing. It’s a signal for us to rethink our notions of beauty. Gone are the days of strong color and vibrant pizzazz. Late fall and winter bring muted and somber tones, and our eyes must adjust to the shift. It’s not always welcome – I love bright colors and gaudy shades – but it’s good to train our sights on texture and patterns and things that will show through the seasons of snow and ice.
