AUTUMN TRANSFORMATION TREASURES

While every season changes our view, each with its own set of colors, shapes, textures, and perspectives -- each with its own arcs in the circle of life, the transitions from summer to autumn seem to be the most visually dramatic.

PORTLAND JAPANESE GARDEN -- PORTLAND, OREGON.

In the middle of the Portland Japanese Garden, a traditional 5.5 acre Japanese garden in the West Hills of Portland, Oregon, magnificent specimen Japanese maples form organic sculptures with their artfully twisted branches and masses of colorful leaves -- green in summer and vibrant red in autumn.

The garden was designed by Professor Takuma Tono and was opened to the public in 1967. It is considered one of the top Japanese gardens outside of Japan.

We are sharing pairs of photos that show this colorful metamorphosis in striking beauty. Check them out below.

TU HWNT I’R BONT -- LLANRWST, WALES

Tu Hwnt i'r Bont is a 15th-century building situated on the River Conwy, just off the Bont Fawr Bridge in North Wales. Originally built as a farmhouse, it was used as a county courthouse in 16th century. It is now managed by the UK National Trust and houses a traditional Welsh Tea Room.

GAPSTOW BRIDGE -- CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK

The Gapstow Bridge, located at 62nd Street, spanning the pond, in Central Park, in New York City, was built in 1874. Designed by Jacob Wrey Mould, it was originally constructed of wood, with cast iron railings, but was replaced by more durable schist stone in 1896.  

The bridge is bedecked with a collection of vines that turn from green to scarlet in autumn, flanked by trees that regale the season by changing to a warm spectrum of reds, oranges and golds. The pond reflection doubles the beauty.

HITACHI SEASIDE PARK -- IBARAKI, JAPAN

The Hitachi Seaside Park, in Ibaraki, Japan, carpets 190 hectares with flowers that bloom year round. In spring, we see a sea of blue nemophila flowers. In autumn, the park is awash in red kochia and cosmos.

GLENFINNAN VIADUCT -- GLENFINNAN, SCOTLAND

The Glenfinnan Viaduct is a railway viaduct on the West Highland Line in Glenfinnan, Inverness-shire, Scotland. It overlooks Loch Shiel and the Glenfinnan Monument.

Constructed in 1898, at the behest of Sir Robert McAlpine the Glenfinnan Viaduct is built entirely out of concrete, with 21 arches. It reaches a height of 30 m (100 ft) above the valley.

The landscape, green in summer and warmly hued in autumn, is strikingly beautiful. It appeared as a backdrop in the film Ring of Bright Water. The viaduct was also featured in the Harry Potter film series, in which the Hogwarts Express, a Jacobite Steam Train, is periodically seen crossing the span.

GRAND ISLAND EAST CHANNEL LIGHT -- LAKE SUPERIOR, MICHIGAN

The Grand Island East Channel Light is a lighthouse that was opened in 1868 to help guide boats from Lake Superior through the channel east of Grand Island into the Munising Harbor. However it was fairly ineffectual and difficult to maintain. It was removed from service in 1908.

The lighthouse was subsequently abandoned, then restored, but still left with a weathered look. Picturesque in any season, it looks striking against the thick forest backdrop, green in summer, brilliant warm hues in autumn.

The lighthouse is listed the National Register of Historic Places.

Read more about Beautiful Autumn Gems in The Biggest, Brightest, Most Beautiful Treasures In The Skies Are Happening Now, Autumn Blooms Are Beautiful Treasures Now, We Need Beautiful Nuts Now, Diamond Nights Are Beautiful Now, Forest Full of Mushroom Gems Now and Extraordinary Autumn Gems to Wear Now.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact Daily Fix posts.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Michael Matti. “Famous Japanese Garden Tree in Portland.” Portland, OR.
2. Image: by Tom Davidson. “Japanese Maple tree.” Portland, OR.
3. Image: by Brent Miller. “Acer japonicum (Aceraceae); Japanese maple.” Portland Japanese Garden. Portland, OR.
4. Image: by Ian. “Tea room and bridge, Llanrwst.” Snowdonia, Wales.
5. Image: by Adam Tas. “Llanrwst Bridge (Welsh: Y Bont Fawr.)” Snowdonia, Wales.
6. Image: by Wally Gobetz. “NYC - Central Park: Gapstow Bridge.” Central Park. New York, NY.
7. Image: by J J. “Gapstow Bridge Fall Colors.” Central Park. New York, NY.
8. Image: by TANAKA Juuyoh (田中十洋). “Burningbush / Kochia scoparia / 箒木(ホウキギ).” Ibaraki, Japan.
9. Image: Courtesy of Hitachi Seaside Park. Ibaraki, Japan.
10. Image: by Isabelle S. “Glenfinnan Viaduct.” Glenfinnan, Scotland.
11. Image: by Matthew Kirkland. “Glenfinnan Viaduct.” Glenfinnan, Scotland.
12. Image: by Jim Liestman. “Grand Island East Channel Light House.” Lake Superior. Grand Island, MI.
13. Image: by James Marvin Phelps. “Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse In Fall Glory.” Grand Island, MI.
14. Image: by Happy Come. Hitachi Seaside Park. Ibaraki, Japan.
15. Image: by Tony Hisgett. “Train across Glenfinnan Viaduct.” Glenfinnan, Scotland.
16. Image: by BN App - Download now!
17. Image: by Wendy. “Zen.” Portland, OR.