We Wait

Look. Up in the sky. No, that's just cold rain, though a mini-flurry of ice pellets was thrown in as a warning.

The diagnosis didn't go there, but everyone kept talking today about a foot of snow. Then they'd look at me - especially for you.

So I guess the first snow is going to be a big one. I'm interested to see what happens with my baby Kousa Dogwood that is now in full fall color.

Will the snow knock off all the leaves? Will the low 20 degrees Sunday and Monday morning cook them to a crispy brown?

Will my still green grasses get crushed under the weight of a heavy wet snow before they have a chance to freeze dry? The diagnosis did mention wet and heavy. It also upped the inches to 8.

As long as the power stays on all will be well no matter what the first snow decides to do.

Autumn had to end sometime.

Tomorrow it will get buried in snow. We wait. It is 36 and raining now. When it gets quiet, I'll know it has started.

The Last Bits

Another 24 hours until the snow falls. The prognosticators keep adding inches of snow and subtracting degrees of warm. There is the suggestion of strong winds.

This fall has lingered a bit longer than usual in the absence of killing frosts. Those killing frosts are now going to come with a wallop it appears.

Most of the leaves are already down.

Finally my baby sumac is showing some color. One of the main reason I planted it was for the good fall color. This one seems off compared to the ones I see along the highway much lower in elevation. All those turned colors weeks ago.

Wet snow, high winds and the low 20's. We can kiss these colored leaves goodbye.

The process of the Tall Flower Meadow getting pressed back into the earth will commence in earnest.

Then when the snow melts and the sun comes out I will go looking to uncover the under garden.

A new season of vegetation will be cast by seeds blown to the wind. Where they land and where they will germinate to form a future Tall Flower Meadow is out of my hands.

On A Cloudy Day

Wolfpen Mountain. It ain't over til the fat man freezes.

The drive to work this morning was particularly colorful due to the low light conditions.

The sun was just breaking out when I arrived back home

To light up the mountain behind me.

The snow is scheduled to arrive in about 48 hours.

The End Of Autumn

The barren time will arrive in only a matter of days at this point, particularly in my slice of the forest.

Cold and the first killing frosts are on the way. There is even a chance of snow in the diagnosis.

Cold fronts almost always come with whipping winds, the kind of winds that can tear the last of the leaves from the forest trees.

The forest will be made naked. The Tall Flower Meadow will be turned to a crispy brown.

It will be time to bring the under garden to life. The roadside attractions will take on more prominence.

The rare blooms that can be found will take on special significance.

The native Witch Hazel, Hamamelis virginiana is just now starting to bloom at the start of the barren time. By the time it is finished in another three weeks, the look of winter will be upon us.

There are just a few days left. Then it will be done. The time of vegetation is over.

Viewing Fall

The other side of the county

 

The view from my parking space.

From my front porch. The baby Kousa Dogwood has consistently had good color late in the season. Now it needs to bloom more.

Looking to the right down the utility easement from my front porch.

My side of the county as seen next door.

Loose Cows On The Perfect Fall Day

It was a surprise to wake up to a warm 50 degrees and just as surprising to wake up with nothing that needed to be done. My body, my spirit, looked forward to the languid day ahead.

But the day was too perfect and beautiful to remain motionless inside.

There was no rush, no critical need, simply a desire for a reason to be outside. I could go pick up all the sticks and big branches that fell from the trees in the storms that passed through a few weeks ago. For two hours I slowly wandered the entire three acres of the wild cultivated gardens, bending, stretching and observing, ohm, on a perfect autumn day.

I had noticed the suspicious tracks and had even considered walking across the scenic byway to climb up the mountain and have a look at the distant view on a perfect fall day. The climb just seemed too strenuous for such a languid day. I didn't go over there.

It's a good thing I didn't. Lurking across the byway was a big ol' loose cow. I wouldn't have had the energy to run if we bumped into and startled each other.

I made some calls and the owner showed up and I watched as he called the cow to follow him back to her pasture. He called his cow call. She followed, sort of.

At least the loose cow is now gone. You couldn't ask for a more perfect day to round up a loose cow.

I languished for the rest of the afternoon on a perfect day in the fall. I had thoughts of doing something. Nothing ever happened. I needed to languish.

It was a perfect warm day in the fall.

Blue Skies And Falling Leaves

With crocus

Chasing Autumn

It has been hard to get the colors in a distant view to show up this year. The lighting never seems to be just right.

In my travels I see all kinds of views. One day it is lit up majestic. The next time it is as dull as paste.

We are at peak now. Those distant hills are covered in a golden orange. Trust me.

It is far easier to capture fall up close and personal, in direct contact with the forest.

Back home in the low light of the setting sun it is even easier.

The collectibles are starting to pile up in the parking lot. I need to spread them out.

A sampling of maples shows the diverse range of colors available.

Yellow has been a strong favorite this year.

A garden path through this section is in the works. Planting and editing will be kept to a minimum. Nature will be in charge. The gardener will keep it tidy.

Autumn will obviously be a focal point in time. I need to remember that when selecting which trees to allow to grow back. I'm already chasing future autumns.