This is my favorite time of year in the garden. The flowers may no longer be at their best, but the trees and shrubs that have provided their simple green backdrop all summer have changed form and color, letting their berries and fruits deepen into rich autumnal colors of infinite textures and depth. Green becomes gold, or red, or orange; it’s impossible to take a walk without picking up a perfect acorn, a sugar maple leaf of deepest russet, or an emerald magnolia pod studded with shiny red berries.

The components of this arrangement came from the yard – dogwood leaves, viburnum heads, hawthorne berries, sedum, meadowsweet, and branches of crabapple. Our two crabapple trees are so heavy with fruit that I feel compelled to find something useful to do with them – or maybe just leave them for the squirrels to enjoy. There are always elements of nature that can be brought indoors and enjoyed, even if it’s just a sprig of ivy or a branch of boxwood. If you take a look around your neighborhood or backyard you may be surprised at the wealth of fall beauty just waiting to be noticed.