Thanksgiving 30 Day Challenge: Day 15 & W4W

This is the time of year when blooms begin to fade and the leaves are falling from the trees revealing the structural elements in my garden. My eyes are now drawn to some of the underlying features that are often overlooked at other times of year when our eyes are more drawn to the showy flowers or fascinating foliage. Today I am joining Garden Walk Garden Talk for Word for Wednesday. Today's words are Texture and Pattern.

As I look to nature I find interesting textures and patterns in the fungi growing on the decaying stumps

Grasses also provide interesting structure and texture

Another element that provides interest in the landscape

is the bark like this dogwood

or this river birch

Looking even further to the ground the vast variety of ground covers  such as mulch, pine straw, gravel, pebbles, rocks or soils provide another form of contrast

The foliage of the lamb's ear has great texture, especially for kids, 

who like the softness of the leaves.

The variety of ferns provide texture and patterns throughout the woodland garden

Succulents give great texture particularly those that change color during the winter months like this Dragon's Blood Sedum

or Angelina Sedum

Sedum and cacti also provide great texture
with their structure 

as well as interesting patterns.

The wildlife  in my garden also presents itself with some interesting patterns and textures such as the bumpy skin of this toad, 

The scales on this anole,

the skin from a rat snake,

the wings of a dragonfly,

and the soft tail of the squirrel

What type of texture and patterns do you find in your garden? Link over to Garden Walk Garden Talk to take a look at other interpretations.

~ Thankfulness Thought of the Day ~ 

I am thankful for all the diversity Nature has to offer. The textures, patterns, structure and contrast provide elements of surprise, interest to our eyes, range in the landscape and most importantly diversity.

After all variety is the spice of life.