Fetching the Mail

I went down to the mailbox to bring up the mail, and happened to look down when my eye caught a flash of bright red. This is a shoot from the Japanese maple tree which is on the other side of the driveway. I guess this has been growing here all season, but when it was surrounded by other green leaves, and the green ferns, it was invisible. Only the change to fall colors made it stand out. I love the beauty of these leaves, and how they stand out in contrast to the weeds and other faded growth which surround them.