October 10

There is less visible grass beneath the big maple by the feeders, replaced by a patchwork carpet of yellow and brown leaves which have been the first to come down. It is this same way around town; we are at the peak of color now, maybe even a little past, though only the first wave of leaf fall has started to happen. In most lawns anyway, it is just below the trees that the grass is covered.

Look up, however, and it’s plain to see that the vast majority has yet to fall. Out lower woods is still fairly closed in, though peaks of branches and trunks are starting to appear in the distance as thinning in starting to occur.

The woods have taken on a golden tone, and it is simply beautiful. Gold and yellow now predominate, with the fiery reds of climbing vines and burning bushes slowly receding. The viburnams are starting to turn, and perhaps if the conditions are right they will display the purple-red colors before giving way to the frosts that are coming closer.