Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Fall Fancies - What Season Is It Anyway?

Here in southern upstate New York, the weather says "summer" but the leaves say "fall".

Temperatures in the 70's F (low 20's Celsius) and lots of sunshine - not our typical fall weather.  I pinch myself almost daily, wondering when it will end.

We have had so much early color, I want to share it with you, my valued blog readers, as we begin a new month.  I welcome new readers from the couple of blog challenges I am in this month with a visual treat - I do this every Wednesday, reflecting something about the current season we are in.

This was taken Saturday, near Owego, New York.  The river is the Susquehanna. The trees are further along now.

Nothing says "fall" like bright yellow trees.
This neighborhood tree is "probably" a white ash.  I am not sure, nor is the woman I depend on for some tree and plant identification, the sister of a friend.


This is probably a type of dogwood - Cornus sericea, my friend's sister thinks.  I found this growing in Sapsucker Woods near Ithaca, which is a bird sanctuary run by Cornell University. 
Also at Sapsucker Woods, a beautiful sunny Saturday near a pond.

I can't say enough nice things about Sapsucker Woods, which is a bit more than an hour's drive from where I live.  There are many nature trails, most of them level and easy to walk (important to me, as my right knee isn't in the best shape). The visitors center is fantastic, and so is the birding.  When I go somewhere, the birds hide and mock me with their calls - saying, no doubt, stuff like "hidefromher! hide hide hide" in bird language.  And, best of all, it is free.

If you are a birder, Sapsucker Woods will be a place you can spend most of the day.

Upstate New York - so many people, when they think "New York State", think New York City.  New York City is just a small part of our beautiful state.

What kind of scenery do you have where you live?

7 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for sharing the lovely fall color. I live in Southern California and we don't get a lot of colorful trees. It was nice to visit yours!

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  2. Hello Alana,

    I missed your blog - I visited you a few times during our last UBC blog challenge :-)

    I live in North Vancouver, and the scenery is amazing. We live across the street from Wickenden Forest, where the deer, owls, bears, and squirrels live. The ocean is a stone's throw away, and mountains in the distance. I thank God every day for our neighborhood! I have two dogs, and we get to wander the forest trails 3 times a day.

    I look forward to running into you again this month!

    In peace and passion,
    Laurie

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  3. Lovely description and beautiful shots...thanks for sharing :)

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  4. Alana,
    Beautiful! My dad "The Tree Man" would have known the name of that tree.What gorgeous colors and that first photo...wow! What a lovely photo of the Susquehanna! You are teaching me to appreciate New York state through your lovely photos! Thanks!
    Amy

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  5. Alana, you experienced 'Indian summer' that feels like summer but looks like fall. I actually have a draft blog post about this very subject that was meant to be posted last weekend! ;) My favourites are the orange- and red-leaved trees: so splendorous! I have a bit of a mini-oasis on my deck with grasses and different trees etc. (can't recall/don't know all their names) around me which I love. Nearby is a long park with lots of pine and deciduous trees as well as flowering shrubs. (BTW Laurie Kienlen, there is no Wickenden Forest in North Vancouver, BC where I live!) ;) <3

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  6. Beautiful.. Having lived in Arizona, I missed the fall colors and love such variety of colors.. Here in UK we get to see colored nature.. Loved your description and pics..

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  7. We don't have a fall season in India, Alana but I love to read about it and am fascinated by the hues of the leaves in the fall pictures I see.

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