Autumn is literally flying by. With strong winds last week, the leaves have quivered and sailed to the ground in whirlwind manner, adding to the stark views through the woods where every bit of goings on can now be seen and not just heard. Strangely I have noticed few squirrels and even fewer birds, the woods noticeably silenced by their absence. There are few acorns this year compared to previous ones, and so the food supply is low. All summer long there were huge numbers of squirrels so, although I am not a fan of them because of all the damage they have done to my bird feeders, finally forcing me to take them all down a few years back, I am concerned for the wildlife that inhabits my parcel of woodland. There were few berries this year because of all the rain and little sun, and even those are now gone, as are the seeds from the rose hips and perennials. I especially miss the bird songs that start immediately before sunrise, a happy sound to wake to. We had a blast of Arctic air sweep through here this week and it forced the last of the still blooming roses into dormancy. The 5 foot tall and equally as wide Kimberly Anne ferns reveal their form now in bronze fronds, blending into the browns, tans and pale yellows of the oak leaves on the ground.
A frost covered the leaves mid week, and as the sun squinted through the bare branches, the leaves caught the light and glistened like crystal. The damp coating took the crunch out of this leaf carpet as I walked around the house and gardens, breathing in the very nippy but revitalizing air and glimpses of the last of autumns vibrant offerings.
The quick shift this year from a wet and wicked summer, to a less than stellar autumn reminds us that Mother Nature is always in charge. We grab the moments of beauty, savor them in the moment, and accept another goodbye to another season. As always, thank you for stopping by. Laters, charisse
In case you missed the first autumn post……see it here .
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