Autumn Leaves

RE: Autumn Leaves (Michael Hoffman)

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 11:24:35 GMT

Virtually all the leaves on the various deciduous trees on my property are down. Anything left will likely be on the ground after the tail end of the so-called megastrom passes through the area. Just as a point of information, a full-grown silver maple tree -- I have three in my front yard -- drops 35,000 leaves each year.
ARRRGGGHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RE: Autumn Leaves (carlton pierre)

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 10:03:41 GMT

I flew into Providence RI this week and was surprised how pretty the leaves were from the air. I figured they would mostly be gone by now.

RE: Autumn Leaves (tmiles)

Sat, 06 Oct 2012 06:17:44 GMT

Here in central New England, the recent string of rain/mist/fog/misty days ended yesterday. It looks to return, but there will be sun today (except for a late day shower). Tomorrow will be a wash. Today could be the best leaf peaking of the week end. There are a few interesting diners on Rt2 from Worcester County, west through the Berkshires. I like the 50-50 Diner in Fitchburg, for breakfast or lunch depending on where you start your Rt 2 trip. The part of Rt 2 called "The Mowhok Trail" by the tourism folks, starts about 15 or 20 miles west of Fitchburg, out to the NY border.

RE: Autumn Leaves (baileysoriginal)

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 23:10:07 GMT

We're surrounded by many large oak trees that are shedding leaves because of the heat and drought - even though we watered all summer. The acorns are just starting to fall and I'm being told that we should have a colorful fall in spite of the extreme conditions. I hope so - but I'm not looking forward to the raking of the leaves.

RE: Autumn Leaves (carlton pierre)

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 07:08:59 GMT

I'm looking forward to a beautiful fall. Leaves are just beginning to turn here. I flew into Detroit last week and the colorul leaves were so pretty from the air.

RE: Autumn Leaves (SeamusD)

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:53:13 GMT

The maple right in front of my office window has just started turning, I only see a few others that are farther along. I'll get a better view as I return home and can look out across the valley.

RE: Autumn Leaves (lleechef)

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 11:02:40 GMT

Our maple trees have just barely started to turn, I think they will drop most of their leaves because of the severely hot summer and drought. BRING ON THE SNOW! Anchorage had their first snow on Saturday, 7" on the Hillside, about half of that in town.

RE: Autumn Leaves (Davydd)

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 09:13:27 GMT

Another year. This year we are home and it appears fall colors are arriving about a week and a half early. The Linden trees have been hit hard by the drought. Their leaves have pretty much shriveled up, dried out and dropped with little color vibrancy. The Maples are almost peaking already. So last year was either late or prolonged but I am guessing the trees will be very bare by the end of the month this year.

RE: Autumn Leaves (tmiles)

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 05:02:48 GMT

I think that we will get the traditional Columbus Day peak here in New England. For the last few years, peak color has been moving north during the 3 day weekend, causing consternation with southern New England tourism people.

"Experts" argue that peak comes a few days after the first frost, but that does not seem to be the case this year. We have had a warm season, and no frost (in most places), yet good color is coming fast. Another week should make a big difference. I have not seen the big blast of tour bus traffic yet. If the bus companies have pushed tours to the later season, they will have to hunt for color.

RE: Autumn Leaves (Davydd)

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:47:42 GMT

We just arrived home to Minnesota this afternoon after driving through home from Florida through Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. We camped and hiked the Appalachian Trail in the Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia at its peak. My general observation is the fall colors seem to be more vivid in the northern states than the southern states. I think because of the higher abundance of Maples and Aspens. I was surprised how vivid the Mississippi River hillsides were near La Crosse, WI on our way home today even past its peak. It was a later autumn than usual. I was also very surprised to arrive home to find our Sugar Maples in our woods still mostly had their leaves. I thought the trees would have been bare by now in Minnesota. From all reports I missed a spectacular fall at home this year. But heck, I was on the beaches of Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas for a few weeks.

Last fall we drove home through Colorado when the Aspen trees were at their peak in the mountains and it was snowing to boot. That was an absolutely spectacular scene.

The south is better in the spring. There are many more flowering trees than in the north. The desert southwest is also beautiful in the early spring. My observations after driving over 20,000 miles on the blue highways this past year for over 100 days mostly in the spring and fall from Palm Springs, CA to Washington DC, to Key West, FL to the end of the Gunflint Trail, MN at the Canadian border.

RE: Autumn Leaves (carlton pierre)

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:44:51 GMT

It's been gorgeous all around east Tennessee. My wife and I have been out the past 2 weekends photographing and enjoying in the beauty of nature. Like Fieldthistle I feel blessed to live where other people take a week off to vacation.

RE: Autumn Leaves (Michael Hoffman)

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:18:35 GMT

Too much rain has dulled all the displays this year around here, and in Western Pennsylvania.

RE: Autumn Leaves (MikeS.)

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:51:20 GMT

It's not Calif. weather but I'm pretty happy with what we get. 3 month of cold winter, 3 months of hot and humid summer and 6 months of really nice spring and fall. Calif was really hot for about 5 month, really cool for 2 and OK for another 5.

RE: Autumn Leaves (CajunKing)

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:02:51 GMT

I know it was an older post by fieldthistle that started this thread.

Rereading it reminds me of how much he is missed. Brother Bear if you are out there WE MISS YOU!

The leaves here this year were BLAHHHHHHHHHHH it was so dry for most of later summer months and then we have had to decent wind events most of ours are brown and blah or gone.

Today is a raw day mid 40's, gusty winds, and drizzle. A perfect day for Chili and a good book. No peace in the house tonight my son is on the start of his "fall break" no class friday or monday. ARRRRRRRGGGHH!

RE: Autumn Leaves (ann peeples)

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:01:09 GMT

I dont know about Chicago, but in the Milwaukee area we are getting ready for 5-6 months of crappy weather!

RE: Autumn Leaves (jeepguy)

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:10:06 GMT

Getting ready for four months of crappy weather.

RE: Autumn Leaves (fishtaco)

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:22:53 GMT

Pretty nice in west central Indiana here too. Have the covered Bridge Festivel going on.

RE: Autumn Leaves (tmiles)

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:55:35 GMT

The 2011 foliage season here in Massachusetts is average at best. If you are coming in this weekend, far Western Mass is about done, but there will still be a few pockets of color on I-90, especially from I-84 east. There is still some green and early color too. A lot of the clam/ice cream shacks closed after Columbus Day, but there are still plenty of places to stop. Some of the press incorrectly reported a poor pumpkin crop, but in this area, at least, all the farm stands seem to have a good supply at fair prices.

RE: Autumn Leaves (fabulousoyster)

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:52:37 GMT

Fieldthistle, you don't have to burn those dry, dead leaves, just let the wind blow them away.

RE: Autumn Leaves (wheregreggeats.com)

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:22:53 GMT

The 4 days of rain up here in the northeast has taken its toll on the foliage.

RE: Autumn Leaves (cavandre)

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:09:02 GMT

Since leaving the NYC area, Fall is the season I miss the most. Down here in Central FL, I'm still keeping an eye on the Weather Chan. to see if I need to put up the hurricane shutters.

RE: Autumn Leaves (ann peeples)

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:13:32 GMT

We, too are doing our fall ritual.Trimming trees, cutting back plants, enjoying bonfires in the darkness of the night.I love the warm days, but savor the cool nights.The birds are really packing in their feed in preparation for winter,and we marvel at watching them...

RE: Autumn Leaves (Earl of Sandwich)

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 23:46:57 GMT

Thistle,

I'm lucky, like you, to live near the mountains of east TN. I am taking my in-laws and my wife on a trip along the Blue Ridge Pkwy at the end of October. I've got a really neat trip planned and looking forward to hitting the Shenadoah region. It's beautiful all year long!

RE: Autumn Leaves (Fieldthistle)

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:07:31 GMT

Hello All,
Kland01s, I wish you had a place in your profile to
send e-mails. I just wished to say you are poetic.
"all the stars in the sky are doubled on still dark water,"
is beautiful and I can see it.
I, too, am a lover of witnessing the Belt of Orion.
The presence of Orion in the sky tells me autumn is here.
It is a friend that makes the changes of the season
comforting.
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

RE: Autumn Leaves (kland01s)

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:13:21 GMT

Field, you are so poetic! I love your writing! Autumn really hasn't begun here in Northern Illinois, infact the last 4 days or so have been back in the 80's with a hazy humidity in the air. Autumn reminds me of my younger days spent in Northern Wisconsin where you can sit by the lake at night and the reflection of all the stars in the sky are doubled on still dark water. We don't see many stars anymore with all the light pollution here but 2 weeks ago we spent a few nights at a country inn outside of Galena Illinois. About 1 am I woke and looked out and could see the Belt of Orion on the horizon, I got up and went out onto the balcony and saw more stars than I have seen in years, no manmade lights visable to me. Sadly, 5 hours later would yield to the beginning of all of the rain from hurricane Ike! We wound up with 10 inches of rain!

Autumn Leaves (Fieldthistle)

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:45:47 GMT

Hello All,
I am so fortunate to live in an
area, the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia,
that usually has beautiful autumn leaves.
People from all over the east coast come
on journeys to see the changing of the
season to our area. We have local
festivals and celebrations in every
little town and village.
And we each have our own personal
celebrations and rituals.
In my family, we cut wood, clean up
the garden, have weekly small bonfires,
and war a bit about how the summer didn't turn out
like what we expected while we wonder how winter will be.
I am already planning Thanksgiving and Christmas while
I kick myself in the butt because I am thinking that far ahead.
I am really yearning to buy bird seed to feed the birds
that have already come to my back deck where I feed them
when the days become cool and the nights cooler.
And I am mourning the lost summer days, the friends
and family that has passed on that I can't share this
season with, and worrying about those who may not be
with me next year.
I, also, turn my attention to my soul, and realize
how weak, bitter, and unloving I can be. There are
people who don't understand me, that love has lost
its power and I simply cry because I love them and
we are now strangers, cold friends or lost loves.
Those are my dry, dead, leaves that I must let the wind
decide where to scatter them, or I gather and burn them on
the spiritual bonfire of my soul. Sorry, don't mean
to enter a downer side, but...
A great joy is that the cool night clear the evening
and night sky. The night welcomes my wife and me
when we go out and see the autumn stars on
our deck, sipping a glass or two or three of cheer.
The stars are so bright and invite us to dream and
also...also to be in this wonderful moment and carry on.
Tell us of how autumn is in your area.
Take Care,
Fieldthistle