73. Maple leaf

Today the Garden was grey, misty and damp, the last of the autumn leaves hanging wet and limp. My eye was drawn to the buttery yellow colour of the maple in the Bealtaine garden, which radiated a soft, golden glow in the greyness. 

This tree is a Norway maple. It doesn't provide the bright reds of the American maples, but I love its subtle palette of yellows and ochres.

This time of Samhain is rich in metaphor. The fallen leaves will slowly decompose to make leaf mold, providing compost for the earth. The detritus of the old helps create the fertile soil for the new, and out of decay comes life.