Autumn at Monticello

Although many of the trees on our route through Virginia and at Monticello were starting to turn, few were yet as vibrant as this one in the grounds.

However, Fall is a busy time at Monticello and we were sorry to find on our arrival in the late morning that the next available house tour was at 5.20!  Too late for us, unfortunately,  but we made the most of the garden, grounds and outside buildings that we could see.

There was a chill in the air today and signs of preparations for colder weather.  Ornamental trees and plants that had been outside on the terraces were safely tucked away in the conservatory.

Many of the large summer flowering plants had gone from the borders but others were in flower - including this rather unusual plant with fruit and flowers at the same time - the Balsam Apple.

There was time for another attempt at the  'Monticello reflected in the fish pond' shot, but the greater number of people there today made it hard to avoid ghostly figures marching through the picture.

There was also time to admire the very clear view of the woods and mountains from the South Pavilion at the end of the vegetable garden..

.. and the vegetable garden itself.

Today's mystery plant was a scented mauve and white climber at the edge of the vegetable garden with a flower that resembled both a large scale wisteria and an everlasting sweet pea..

For the first time in Virginia we saw some tobacco growing..

And at the side of the family graveyard, an extraordinary plant with huge thorns ..

(Trifoliate orange, apparently).

A good day, despite not seeing the interior of the house..