Pretty and Fleeting ...

I thought we were not going to have much in the way of Fall Colors this year. In September the trees were turning and the undergrowth in the forest was dying off due to our drought. We've been getting rain since then and it seems the trees made a recovery and are now on schedule with bright and beautiful colors.

I think they are just showing off after such a tough year.

I like to take my photos of the leaves from under the trees in full sunlight. I use the sun to light up the leaves and make them glow with color. This past week I was limited in the morning by pet chores so I didn't get my usual morning shots. 

But this is what I did find and I am satisfied with it.

I like standing in the shadows of the trees and finding spots of light. I guess this has just how I liked to see things this year.

Apparently, according to the Leaf Color chart, our area is at 95%. I'd call it a full peak of color right now.

Of course I hope to get out this weekend and enjoy some of those colors in one of our county parks or perhaps a state park.

Falling

 

The leaves are falling everywhere!

Oh no! I feel like I am going to miss it. Wait miss what? I'm not exactly sure. But Fall makes me feel like I am missing out on something as the leaves drop and blow away leaving the trees stark...

...and
amazing in their winter garb.

But until then I will enjoy their colors and the leaves dropped onto the forest floor. With winds gusting up to [40 mph] according to the weather sites, leaves came down in a hurry around here. My gutters filled up with locust leaves and pine needles. 

I won't clean them until the rest of the leaves are down for the year. The yard is done. I mowed two weeks ago and it has frosted and been so dry that the yard won't grow much.

Below ~ Our first hard frost October 8th:

Since then the leaves went into hyper drive change mode. That is the one thing I wish they would not do.

Wouldn't it be nice to see the leaves change slowly and give us more time to enjoy them? 

So during Fall, I chase the leaves. Last year I chased the leaves at a few county parks, this year, most of my color/light chasing has been done right here around home.

I chase the leaves, I chase the light. I want to skip meals and just soak up the forest around me in these precious Fall days.

Charlie has no objections to it either. He likes wandering the forest and finding neat hidey holes for 'possum, raccoon, and other critters. 

Hubby knows this is my Fall routine and that I get on a roll and can't be stopped when Fall is here.

Maybe it is the shorter days that make me feel like I can't miss a thing. By midwinter I seem to adjust well. 

Even the leaves on the ground are amazing. Below are macros of Maple leaves.

Yesterday, we had rain. A long awaited rain. Just enough to settle the dust for a few minutes. 

Then a cold front swept through in the late afternoon and dropped temperatures drastically along with some 40 mile an hour gusts of wind.

Everyone got in on a bit of goofiness. 

Blasts of Colors

Fall.

[Designed with a photo of flowers and some 
artistic help from AI.]

I can never keep up when the colors start changing. I want to drop housework, chores, and everything just to spend the time outside looking for that amazing light and those colors of the trees and shrubs.

I get cranky and anxious, afraid that I will miss one beautiful red leaf dropping from the trees, or an afternoon golden glow in an old forest with little undergrowth.

I fear missing all those beautiful little fungi that seem to sprout up after a little rain. Or the incredible patterns of brightly colored leaves on the forest floor.

 

That first hard frost brings excitement and sadness. I want to see the frost on the petals of flowers and then I am sad when the flowers wilt by the end of the day. 

They talk about the Rite of Spring.

What should we call the Rite of Fall?

I found a quote that said "Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go."

True. But... I want Autumn to last more days. Is is too much to ask of the trees and the brush to turn more slowly and to hang on to their leaves longer? 

Is it too much to ask of Mother Nature to extend those golden days just a bit?

Come on Mom Nature! Give us more beautiful days of awesome-ness to stand in your fall beauty and stare in wonder!

Just give me some more time to explore your colors and your trails....

Please?

The above photos were all taken just walking around the forest near my house.

Enjoy.