The sky did manage to clear in the afternoon, allowing the sun to shine on the leaves, although many trees have lost most of their leaves from the strong winds over the last few days.
Looking Up at Color
Picture of the Day for October 21, 2017
Viewing the autumn display today probably was done by cars instead of long hikes due to the rain falling on and off during the day. The strong winds also caused the leaves to float on the air before landing on the ground, soon to be covered under the winter’s blanket of snow.
Rainy Autumn Day
Picture of the Day for October 20, 2017
Today might have been the last 70 degree day for the season until next year, so it was a great day to be outside taking care of projects or taking a hike to view the autumn colors. But you probably needed your own hiking boots for the walk as these boots are a bit ‘attached’ to the posts!
Autumn Hiking Boots
Picture of the Day for October 19, 2017
The nice day had some people raking up leaves while others were out taking a drive to view the colorful leaves, even if some areas are past peak and the windy days are stripping some trees bare. This old mill was built in 1850.
Autumn at Hyde Mill
Picture of the Day for October 18, 2017
In 1933, fewer than 70 wild trumpeter swans were known to exist after being hunted to near extinction but with the discovery of the swans in Alaska in 1950s, the trumpeters have made a come back. The large native waterfowl, with a wingspan of 6 feet and weighing more than 25 pounds, they required a long 100 yard runway to get airborne.
In the fall, they begin to gather near open water and will feed on aquatic plants until winter locks away their food below a thick sheet of ice and then they migrate to an ice free location.
Fall Gathering of Trumpeter Swans
Picture of the Day for October 17, 2017
Most of the cranberry beds that I saw this morning while exploring the area had been harvested but there were several beds which the cranberries had been stripped from the vines and the cranberries were floating on the water waiting to be corralled and loaded on trucks.
Cranberries Floating Around
Picture of the Day for October 16, 2017
The harvest season is behind this year with the weird weather but soon the soybeans will be dry enough to begin harvest.
Waiting for Harvest
Picture of the Day for October 15, 2017
The changing foliage of trees are not the only part of nature providing yellow, orange and reds to view as the sunrises and sunsets as provide some colors.
October Sunset Colors
Picture of the Day for October 14, 2017
The rain moved in by afternoon, shorting the dry leaf peeping time for today but next week may be a sunny week for viewing the changing foliage.
Color Before the Rain
Picture of the Day for October 13, 2017
There wasn’t much activity around the pond when I mowed around it this afternoon as there was no dragonflies darting around. The dragonfly flight muscles need to be kept at a suitable temperature for the dragonfly to be able to fly. They can raise their temperature by basking in the sun, which was out today, but it was still chilly out so they either have migrated or they have outlived their short lifespan. If I had looked under the water, I might have spotted some larvae, which their larval stage can last two years or more, so more dragonflies will return next summer again.
Absent Dragonfly
