How do you catch a moonbeam in your hand? How do you catch the glow of autumn with your camera?

You can’t really capture either, but I keep on trying!

Many years ago, on my first trip to Giverny to see Monet’s garden, I discovered the art of espaliering. I planted this apple tree many years ago on the side of my garage, and although it hasn’t been pruned perfectly over the years by a variety of caretakers, it is still growing strong.

This year it produced 3 apples. I don’t grow the tree for its fruit, but for the opportunity to harness nature (in very a small way). The feisty squirrels who make my garden their home have robbed me of the the other 2 apples, but yesterday I plucked the remaining one you see here.

Each of the 4 major branches of this tree are of a different apple variety. It is a true “specimen” tree!

A picture is so perfect it must be shared immediately. This is one!

And I buy them whenever I have a good chance, even knowing they will be difficult to transport home.

But, look at the payoff!

Last fall I purchased a small group of ceramics in Orvieto, one of my favorite places to pick up unusual items. I loved this flower vase but knew it would be difficult to fill attractively because of the Renaissance colors