Autumn’s palette of vibrant colors transforms fall landscape

By Barbara Schneider, Gibbs Gardens, Photos Courtesy of Gibbs Gardens

Exceptional fall color in the Japanese Gardens

In fall, Gibbs Gardens’ 376-acres transform into stunning, real-life autumnal art. Trees of every size, shape and variety take center stage; their leaves aglow in vibrant shades of amber as thousands of blooming flowers slowly fade into the background. From rare weeping varieties to majestic, mature sky-scrapers and natural woodlands, trees bring vibrant color to every corner of the Gibbs Gardens.

Golden leaves of a Japanese Maple bring an autumn glow to the Japanese Garden.

Jim Gibbs, owner/designer/developer of Gibbs Gardens and a nationally recognized landscape designer, uses a wide variety of Japanese Maples to bring color and majesty to his fall gardens. More than 3,000 Japanese Maples, representing 300 varieties, thrive throughout the gardens. The leaves of different varieties morph into yellow, orange and red shades at different times throughout fall to offer ever-changing foliage views.

The Sango Kaku is unique for its coral bark and pink-tinged golden-yellow leaves.

There is no place more beautiful than Gibbs Gardens’ magnificent 40-acre Japanese Garden where thousands of Japanese Maples delight the senses. “Tsukiyama,” Gibbs’ Japanese hill-and-pond stroll garden, features 100 varieties of Japanese Maples in an array of colors, textures, sizes and shapes. Favorites include Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku,’ known for bright coral bark with green and golden-yellow foliage in fall. Acer palmatum autopurpurem ‘Bloodgood’ leaves turn crimson red while Acer dissectum ‘Crimson Queen’ has lacy leaves that turn yellow red in fall. Acer shirasawanum ‘Aurem’ ‘Autumn Moon’ leaves turn orange red and Acer palmatum ‘Ryusen,’ a weeping form, turns brilliant shades of orange and red late in autumn. These are just a few examples of Japanese Maples. Their color is so outstanding it only takes one to create a beautiful fall statement in a home garden.

Encore Azaleas in fall bloom in the Inspiration Garden.

Gibbs adds layer upon layer of autumn color to his gardens with vibrant fall blooms on bushes and shrubs. Hundreds of Eumonymus alatus (burning bush) are sprinkled throughout the gardens to provide pops of brilliant red. More than 1200 Encore Azaleas and 1500 native azaleas bring colorful blooms to the gardens in fall. Add hundreds of fall roses throughout the gardens, gorgeous waterlilies in peak bloom and fall annuals to spread nature’s beauty throughout the garden.

Wildflower Meadow with fields of cosmos and giant zinnia attract migrating monarch
butterflies and Georgia swallowtails.

A world-class garden experience

Honored with the National Garden Clubs’ Award of Excellence, Gibbs Gardens was named one of the “Thirteen Best Botanical Gardens in America,” “2020 Best American Botanical Gardens,” one of the “World’s 10 Best Places to See Daffodils,” a top garden in Georgia by the Atlanta Journal Constitution and Explore Georgia. To learn more, go to gibbsgardens.com.

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