Posts tagged ‘Autumn’

October 17th, 2011

Plants at Blomidon

On the first part of the Jodery Trail, which is mostly open, there are lots of pin cherries.

mystery wild flower gone to seed. Any guesses?

During our hike along the trails at Blomidon Provincial Park, one thing stood out, and that was fall colors. By that I mean the lack thereof!

“Scientists don’t quite know if global warming is changing the signs of fall like it already has with an earlier-arriving spring. They’re turning their attention to fall foliage in hopes of determining whether climate change is leading to a later arrival of autumn’s golden, orange and red hues.” Read the whole story on MSNBC.

A vernal pond? This spot was magical, but alas, it does not show well in the picture:(

The changes don’t necessarily indicate long-term trends. It could have been the heavy rain and hurricanes we had this year leading to fungal growth, which in turn, cause some tree s to forego the colourful display with leaves to turning brown and dropping earlier. However, there are some studies that indicate long-term trends. 

But in the last week, the fall colors came out, and many are already on the ground.

There are spots along the trail where the forest is all maple trees. There are four speices of maple in the park. I can't tell you want they are because we didn't walk the interpretive trail!

One of my favourite things to do when hiking in the woods is to pay attention to the smells. The types of plants in an area affect the smells. Some areas are full of that pine scent, others smell of rich humus, but my favourite smell is that sweet, cotton-candy smell! What causes that smell out in the middle of the forest? (Douglas fir trees?) (twin flower?)

I hate to admit it, but I don't know my trees! I most correct this gap in my knowledge.

Fireweed gone to seed.

I've always wondered what this black stuff is, anyone know?I think the black stuff is Black Knot Fungus.

Orange Hawkweed, sometimes called Devil's Paint Brush

September 20th, 2011

Fall Enchantments

A Delightsome Life

Fall Equinox is near (Sept 23), so in honour of the changing season I’ve joined in with “A Return to Loveliness” celebrating the arrival of Autumn special edition by showing some of my favourite fall enchantments. What are yours?

-          Bright red berries on the holly bush and the mountain ash.

 

-          New perennial flower bed consisting of fall dividings (soapwort, Coreopsi, Shasta daisy, St. John’s Wort, brown-eyed susans, Jerusalem artichoke , phlox, spiderwort, sneezeweed, limelight, and 2 other things I don’t rememeber the names of:) I hope they survive and fill up the space into a beautitful cottage-style flower garden! The space was overgrown with wild roses, golden rod, grass etc. It took some time to get it ready. Most of the plants came from my mother-in-law’s garden. The St. John’s Wort come from another  part of the yard where a seed the “mother bush” must have been dropped off. The soapwort came from one of the gardener’s in the gardening club (plant exchange). I can’t wait to see what they look like in bloom. Total cost for this flower bed (not including my labour): $4!

 -          Sort of sweater weather: had two on this morning. It’s 4pm now and warm!

-          Noticing the changing leaves.

-          Looking ahead to more time indoors by reading homemaking, cooking, decorating blogs:

A Cultivated Nest, Coffee, Tea, Books, and Me, The French Country Cottage, How Sweet It Is, The Charm of Home, A Delighsome Life

-          Prepping my fall and winter reading pile–it’s a big one!

-          Not too hot to bake (hmmmm, apple crisp).

-          Pumpkins and apples everywhere!

-          The smell and feel of crisp, cool air in the morning.

-          The rays if the rising sun shining through the dew-dampened woods.

-          No more mowing the lawn–I hope.

-         Tall, golden grasses blowning in the wind.

 

-         Even the local fungi is enjoying fall colours!

As you can see, I’ve downloaded a new photo editor to play with!

Hope you enjoy your last few days of summer.