Quote of the Day: Bernd Heinrich
The leaves of the red maple drop at the height of their color, and all the while that the forest is ablaze in color from the underbrush up through the tips of the crowns, the ground also is aflame as the magic settles onto the wilting ferns and last year’s decrying brown leaves. I want to pick up every leaf, for each one seems brilliant and unique. I want to know that the colors are even more precious because they are ephemeral–in a few days they all face to a uniform brown.
Bernd Heinrich (A Year In The Maine Woods)
Fall can be a flash in the pan kind of season. Some years it’s longer than others. When the weather cooperates, you get a few weeks of beautiful color and glorious weather. When it doesn’t, just about the time the leaves peak, the wind and rain arrive, washing most of the fall color to the ground, where it quickly turns brown.
This past week we had a windy rainy day that did just that. The nice thing about those windy rainy days, is that it clears the air, making things so crisp and clean. It seems this can only happen in the fall for some reason.
On Saturday morning we woke up to our first frost and freeze. It was 30 when I awoke, there was a skim of ice in my watering can when I went to the chicken coop. Winter is slowly creeping up on us!
How is fall progressing in your garden? Frost, freezes, changing leaves?
Filed under Quote | Comments (7)
We’ve had several hard frosts in southern Iowa (Zone 5) that have nipped all but the cold weather crops in the garden. The calendula, mums, and snapdragons still provide some bright spots of colors. Many trees have lost their leaves, but most of the oaks are just reaching full color. We are getting rain! We need 16 inches to catch up.
to Grannie M's comment
Wow, that’s a lot of rain. I bet the story is similar back in Ohio, we were very short on rain this summer. Here in Maine we’ve been having a good amount of rain, at least for my Ohio self. Not sure if it’s normal, light, or heavy for Maine standards yet.
to Susy's comment
Our first frost was Saturday too. The yard looks SO different now. I’m not adjusting well to the cold…but I do love winter so we’ll embrace her when she finally arrives. :)
to Debbie's comment
I love the opening quote. Each year I am in awe of the amazing colors of fall.
to Sierra N Hampl's comment
Shorter, cooler (85°) days.
It sprinkled last week!
to Maybelline's comment
I left Saturday AM but hope the Kale is sweetened by the frost..
to jennifer fisk's comment
I’m hoping this is the case too. I think sausage kale soup will be on the menu this week!
to Susy's comment