Late Autumn Colors

As the season ages, the brilliant colors of fall gradually fade, becoming more and more difficult to find. Here in northcentral Pennsylvania the leaves of black birch and its more northern relative white birch are usually the first to turn from green to yellow; then the maples turn to red, yellow or orange. As the season progresses the leaves of other species turn color and fall to the ground. The oaks come last in the parade of colors.

By early November most trees are bare of leaves and the herbaceous plants have finished blooming. The colorful birds of spring and summer have migrated to warmer climes and the northern birds that head our way are slowly arriving.

Migrating waterfowl pass through in November and some linger for a while; and there are even a few insects that become active on warmer days. And there’s still some color to be found – oaks, being the last trees to turn color, brighten the landscape; and there are even a few scattered leaves of other tree species.

Robin

Floating Oak Leaves

New York Fern

American Hornbeam

Oriental Bittersweet

Brook Trout

Mallard

Wolf's Milk Slime Mold

Goldenrod Seed

Canada Geese

Japanese Larch

Frost on Black Maple leaf

Witch-hazel Flowers

White Birch

Ruddy Ducks

Pin Oak Leaf

Morning Sun

Mute Swan

Comma Butterfly

Blue Jay

Red Maple Leaf

Red Oak Leaves

First Snowflakes

Come early December the colors are almost all gone, replaced by the grays and browns of winter.

Or the white of winter storms –

It's Thanksgiving

For family, friends, forests and fields may we be ever thankful.

To those of us who live in the United States today is Thanksgiving Day, our friends in Canada celebrated on October 14. In both countries Thanksgiving Day is set not by date, but by the day of the month – in Canada it’s the second Monday in October, in the U.S. it’s the fourth Thursday in November.

In both countries Thanksgiving is a harvest festival exemplified by feasting. Like many people, we have turkey and squash, pies of pumpkin and apples. But it’s the turkey that is so often the symbol and feature of Thanksgiving. So, on this Thanksgiving Day, wild turkeys are featured here –

Turkeys are native to the Americas and were unknown in Europe and Asia until early explorers brought them back from their journeys. 

Now it's time to enjoy being with our family - and anticipate that roast turkey.