A Walk in the Park

It's no surprise that I found myself walking near the river in a local park -- it's what I love to do.  But, for me, the surprise was finding these beautiful red maple leaves still on the branches above and painting the ground below.  Since I stopped to photograph the gorgeous autumn landscape,  I added several minutes to the walk -- but I'm used to that as it happens all the time.  Anyway, if you are a local, you recognize the location as Tirrill Park in Manchester.  And regardless of your whereabouts, today's a good time to get outside and take in any of fall's delightful scenery.

"And the sun took a step back, 

the leaves lulled themselves to sleep 

and autumn was awakened."

                                                                                                                       --Raquel Franco

 

Autumn Mornings

"If a year was tucked inside of a clock,

then autumn would be the magic hour."

                                                                                               --Victoria Erickson

Autumn Hues

 

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, 

fluttering from the autumn tree."

                                                                                                                          --Emily Bronte

Still Blooming

 

Like so many folks, since mid-March my travels have been very limited and mostly for grocery pick-up; however, recently I decided to venture out and visit the arboretum in Dubuque.  Like always, there were so many beautiful things, including the rose garden, enormous dahlias (see above photo) and colors galore.  As I've previously noted, this place is a treat for my senses and never disappoints.  In addition to all the colorful blooms and carefully planned beds, there is also plenty of space to just wander under the trees and watch squirrels scurry from one branch to the next.  Overhead I heard blue jays squawking and below noticed chipmunks darting to and fro.   This outing was the perfect escape.

Autumn Reflections

 

Ahhhhh.  Recently I captured these early-morning reflections along the Maquoketa River near the Hartwick bridge.  In this post, there's no need for many words but rather just to sit in the stillness of these spectacular views and the ensuing calm.  The tranquil water and stunning vistas soothe my soul and leave me inhaling, exhaling and forgetting about everything else.  Priceless.

Your Path

 

"You will recognize your own path when you come upon it because you will suddenly have all the energy and imagination you will ever need."

                                                                                                                                            --Sara Teasdale

Still in the Park

 

As mentioned in my previous post, these pictures were from a recent visit to Backbone State Park.  The images show some fall colors but also the harsh lighting due to a cool wind and an unsettled and mostly dark sky.  The following quote fits perfectly as it describes what I felt and saw as well as what I heard.

"Two sounds of autumn are unmistakable...the hurrying rustle of 

crisp leaves blown along the street...by a gusty wind, 

and the gabble of a flock of migrating geese."

                                                                                                                --Hal Borland

 

Fall in the Park

 

At this time of the year, Backbone State Park is one of my favorite destinations.  The water, forest, colorful foliage, quiet, rugged terrain and longstanding structures are some of the features sure to satisfy any nature lover.  Anyway, during my recent visit there was a distinct chill in the air, a light wind and the clouds were unsettled and passing through quickly while blocking much of the early evening sunlight.  The effect was unique as the lighting was very harsh and created some interesting contrasts.  Definitely, those elements are present in both images as the thick, puffy dark clouds appear directly overhead.  In addition, the ripples on the water's surface indicate the cool fall breeze.

"Is not this a true autumn day?  

Just the still melancholy that I love -- that makes life and nature harmonize."

                                                                       --George Eliot

A Fall Favorite

 

Annually I look forward to this massive expanse of green and white occupying a large portion of our home's facade.  Of course, I'm referring to this variety of clematis that blooms sometime post-Labor Day.  This year I was beginning to wonder just when the buds when burst open as I noticed other residences where this same variety had been flowering for about two weeks.  Ah, finally!  And, yes, it clings to a couple of trellises but also to several vertical curved rods that we positioned just to support this heavy carpet of organic matter, to the shutters and to anything that it can reach.... which also means we have to keep it from growing on the shrubs and must use many bungee cords to support the weight as rain and wind storms often pull it from the upright position and it blankets the ewes below.  Although during the growing season it requires some attention, it's still a fall favorite.