I feel like fall is the ideal time for sitting and observing–for taking it in without having to fill the empty space with idle chatter. Which leads me to today’s mission: find a bench somewhere in the Garden, and spend at least 20 minutes sitting quietly. As my high school guitar teacher used to call it, see if you can “lift” the individual components of nature’s soundtrack; that is, isolate a single bird’s song, or one tree’s creaking branches among the rest. Listen to the wind a while.

Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

Manolo Valdés may have capped the undertaking of Monumental Sculpture with multi-ton creations ferried by truck, crane, and ship, but that’s not where he began. First, he needed to gel his ideas on a smaller scale. If you happen to stop by the Library Building this winter, you’ll see the artist’s initial inspiration in his maquettes, now on display in the Orchid Rotunda.

Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

The fine twists and arches of the tulip trees are getting a head-start on the winter aesthetic. We’re okay with it.

Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

Remember our neotropical blueberries? This batch of flowers is coming up in the Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections, likely to be seen in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory in the nearish future. Keep an eye out.

Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

Tuesday’s snowfall was gone before it hit the ground, but that didn’t stop Ivo from snapping a few choice fall photographs!

Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

This is a super-important reminder, everyone: you have one more day! That’s all that remains of your window to submit photographs to the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition before the judges close up for deliberations. And if you can’t have your submissions in by Friday, November 30, you’ll find yourself waiting at least another anxious year before you have an opportunity to win over $18,000 in prizes, international recognition, and your work in a professional exhibition!

Even if you can’t find the time to hike outdoors in search of that perfect shot, there’s no reason to give up hope–IGPOTY accepts old photos, as well. Just head over to their official competition page for guidelines on what to pull out of your portfolio. In the meantime, here are a few winning photographs from past years to jog your inspiration.
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Don’t overlook the desert houses when you visit the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory for the Holiday Train Show. It may not be conventional holiday beauty, but it’s undeniable nonetheless.

Mammillaria huitzilopochtli — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

Photo by Patricia Gonzalez

It’s where we squirrel away all of our warmth. The squirrels–we keep them outside.

Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

Photo by Patricia Gonzalez