GARDENING, GOLD, AND PHOTO SHOOTS
3 FUN FAMILY ACTIVITIES FOR FALL
It’s fall, which means social media will soon be saturated with pictures of your friends enjoying “classic” fall activities. Photos of leaf peeping, apple picking, and the occasional scarecrow run rampant. But rather than following the herd, you can make your family the trendsetter of unique fall activities! Here are a few outdoor endeavors your family will love. GET GARDENING.
planning a road trip out to an old ghost town. Many of them have great tourist attractions that include gold panning. You probably won’t get rich, but it will still be a fun story. If you’re not able to make the trip, you can always create a gold panning operation at home! Visit MessForLess.net/panning-for-gold-activity for a great step-by-step guide on how to go panning for gold in your own backyard. PLAN A FALL PHOTO SHOOT. It’s time to freshen up those family pictures hanging around the house. The changing leaves provide a beautiful background for any family portrait. Better yet, the cooler temperatures mean that an outdoor photo shoot won’t be nearly as uncomfortable as it would be in the summer. You can take your pictures by the trees in the front yard or make a daytrip of it. What about pictures at the corn maze or pumpkin patch? It’s never too soon to start planning this year’s holiday card. Spend this fall outdoors and create great new memories with your family!
Fall is the time for harvest, but if you want to enjoy flowers in the spring, it’s also a time for planting. The cooler autumn air is easier on plants, but the
soil is still warm enough for roots to grow before the ground freezes for winter. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are all spring bulbs that need to be planted in the fall. Do a little research with your family to determine the best time to start planting in your area. PAN FOR GOLD. Here’s one that’s really off the beaten path: Take your family on an adventure panning for gold! Start by
THE JAPANESE RED MAPLE ELEGANT RELIC OF THE VICTORIAN HORTICULTURAL EXCHANGE WITH ASIA
There’s nothing quite like a splash of vibrant red among the green. The Japanese red maple, aka Acer palmatum , is a small tree with a classic pedigree and a big personality. In the spring and fall, the leaves erupt in colors of the finest reds, making it the jewel of any yard.
Different varieties, or “cultivars,” exist with different colors, and the shades of red of each can change during the growing season, even fading into dark greens. This is something to keep in mind if you desire the tree for its characteristic red leaves. Careful cultivar selection and plot selection is a must! According to the Arbor Day Foundation, the Japanese red maple grows best in slightly acidic, moist, and well-drained soil, perfect for forested New England. They also note that the tree requires consistent soil moisture. Should the soil become too dry — then too wet right afterward— the tree will be unable to thrive. Adding a drip irrigation to your landscaping near the maple is one way to keep this tree healthy and happy. Overall, the Japanese red maple is easily maintained. You can sculpt it to a smaller size to fit your landscaping needs, or you can allow it to grow. It can reach anywhere between 25–30 feet in height, with a roughly a 30-foot branch spread, and you’ll be steward to an elegance that’s hard to beat.
While it is a beautiful tree that adds rich color to any scene. It is an accent tree more than a main attraction. Introduced to America and England in the Victorian era of gardening, it has been a popular front yard tree for over 150 years. The Japanese maple prefers partial or almost full shade and does best under or near long- established taller shade trees. If
you already have mature trees of different varieties, the Japanese red maple may be an ideal accent to your existing landscape. The maple can also do well in heavy shade, but it will grow at a much slower rate.
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