Winterthur Stroll Finds Greenery, But Not Much Fall Color

I visited Winterthur Museum and Gardens today, searching for some fall color but found that our recent forays into the 70's and 80's are not doing it for the bright colors. I know there are scientific reasons having to do with chlorophyll, but I am a simple person, and the simple fact that it is still very warm in Delaware convinces me that the temps are to blame.

Don't get me wrong, the woods were beautiful today and the birds were having a songfest in the conifers, so there was a lot of greenery, especially in the pinetum. The only colorful trees were small ones I could not name, and the big sour gum trees.

There were many estate vehicles buzzing around, working on what looks to be a new feature: a folly (an often extravagant picturesque building erected to suit a fanciful taste) more often seen in England. Then there was a painter working on keeping the railings around featured areas shiny and black. And it looked like they were renovating some areas in the Enchanted Woods and had already rebuilt the entrance to the witch's house.

The quarry garden was quiet, but the hill above still had the last remnants of colchicum (naked ladies) growing in the grass. These bulbs send up green leaves in the spring, and then stark flowers come up in the fall in the same spots.

And I always stop to visit the curious koi in the glade. They must be trained to look for food when someone stops at the edge of their pond, but I know the museum would not appreciate visitors tossing anything into the pristine pond. But these guys look up with soulful eyes--maybe they are just saying a greeting and not looking for food.

Your Older and Historic Homes Resource, Carolyn Roland is waiting to hear from you with information about buying or selling older and historic homes in Delaware or Southern Chester County, Pennsylvania.