Seeing Red

I only have one plant in the garden with consistent autumn colour.  A few others make half hearted attempts as the year dies but only Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' really goes to town with its display.  Here it is:

Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' autumn colour

Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' autumn colour - looking up into the canopy

Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' autumn colour - another view

It's been in the ground for 12 years now, bought as a tiny sapling.  In recent years I've had to raise its skirts, removing the lower branches to allow light in to the shade beds underneath.  All year it's elegant - but the final display as pigments are removed from the dark red leaves before leaf fall and winter is always the best.  Fortunately we've had little wind and the leaves have not been stripped. Looking at the forecasts I should enjoy it for a few days more before bare branches herald the true arrival of winter.  Today, when I took the shots, was cloudy.  Tomorrow should be sunny and the light should make the colours even more intense.