An Autumn Kaleidoscope

Dave of The Home Garden has created a Fall Color Project in which bloggers are encouraged to share photos of the peak of autumn color in their area.  You can find out more about this project here, and find links to other participants’ blogs.  Dave suggests that, “In theory we should be able to follow the transition of peak times from far in the north to as far south as the leaves change color.” I look forward to exploring everyone’s contribution!

Yesterday, being Thanksgiving Day here in Canada, we took a leisurely drive to my parents’ home for dinner.  The colors were spectacular — the best I’ve seen in many years.  It was hard to know where to train the lens next, and I’m sure I drove my long suffering spouse half crazy with, “Stop.  Stop!” all the way along the route.  I’ve posted some of the photos from that trip in this project.  Some trees were windblown past their prime…some were still green and hanging on tenaciously to their leaves, so it was a good mix.  I hope you enjoy this explosion of fall color.

On such a day each road is planned
To lead to some enchanted land;
Each turning meets expectancy …
I know by autumn’s wizardry
On such a day the world can be …
Only a great glad dream for me!
–   Eleanor Myers Jewett, “An Autumn Day”

The first color to present itself (other than the large clumps of staghorn sumac that line the roadside) was the gold and orange of hardwood trees along the banks of the St. Croix River.  There is a wide flood plain here where the river has cut through limestone bedrock, now exposed as white cliffs or banks that you can see below the trees. The calcareous soil harbours the rare Rams Head Lady Slipper.  Another photo below shows this rock formation better.

Just down the road is a beautiful farm owned by the Woolaver family.  They have the most wonderful, tree-lined lane to their house and it’s always showy this time of year.  In fact, many couples have their wedding photos taken here, horse, buggy and all.  Below, a more pastoral scene on the same property.

The above photo was taken in the village of Brooklyn.  Years ago, a train used to wind its way along its banks, but more special than that to me, my Dad grew up in a house that was situated just a few dozen feet to the right edge of this photo…you can still see signs of the basement.  He used to swim in this river as a boy.

Once we entered the Walton Woods Road, scenes like the one above completely surrounded us, and you hardly knew where to look.  The colors were almost fluorescent.  The following few photos were all taken along that route, close to the Cogmagun River.

Sometimes, a single tree such as the lone maple below is just as spectacular as an entire forest.

Below, Three Mile Brook displays a stand of glowing tamaracks.  Every bit as lovely as any hardwood.

Just minutes from my hometown of Walton we came to this beautiful offering from Nature on the Walton River.  I keep thinking how stunning these all would have been with sun on them!

Finally, having arrived at my parents, we all enjoyed a great visit and a tasty dinner, leaving the table well stuffed.  The last color of the day was presented at sunset — the photo below was taken from my parents’ front deck.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my Kaleidoscope Tour and that it has given you a little taste of the color of my part of Nova Scotia this fall.