The Flatlands

Over the weekend I was down in the flatlands.  The truely flat lands of Maryland and Delaware, way out on the coast.  The flatlands where there is not much going on tree-wise, autumn-wise.  Just occasional farm stands filled with lovely orange pumpkins and garden mums.  That’s autumn for the flatlands.  While away, I missed the screaming-school-bus yellow of the Hickories, and the reds, and golds and lime greens of  autumn in the mountains.

Raring To Go

This morning I was chomping at the bit, all set to get my fill of autumn in the mountains again.  But wait!  There’s a seldom spotted critter at the bird bath.  A critter that reminds me of the New Mexico state bird, the Road Runner.  A Brown Thrasher,Toxostoma rufum, was splish, splashing in my bird bath.  Stop everything!  I’ve got to get a picture of him!  Fortunately he was slow enough, that I could put the camera onto the lens that is mounted on the tripod.  I got him splishing and splashing, but not so much in focus.  When he came out to preen and dry, I was able to get him, almost crisp and sharp.  Mission accomplished.  Now on to gathering up that camera and another one for the trek.

Blue Skies

I was lucky today.  The brilliant blue skies, perfectly accented the rusty browns of the White Oaks as I climbed higher and higher, up the mountain.

Backdrop

The azure skies provided the perfect background for the scarlet of the Red Maples.  A background that made the reds just pop!  And see that wisp of a cloud?  That is all there was up there in the glorious blue – just a wisp.

A Family Favorite

There’s one tree up here that I think I can safely say is a family favorite.  It’s the Black Gum, which has red leaves that really beat the band.  The leaves have a slight gloss to them that just adds to the appeal.

A Slow One

One of the slower trees to change into their autumn garb, the Sugar Maple is one that I love to watch for.  A winner up in Vermont.  I am lucky to have some here in the Blue Ridge Mountains as well.

My Happiness Tree

The one tree that provides me with more happiness than any, here on my mountain, is the American Chestnut.  Their leaf, so beautiful with its ocean wave edge, turning yellow-green, then yellow, then on to a warm soft brown.  I see these trees and know that I am home, where there is so much color, everywhere, I look I feel as if I am walking through a museum of autumnal color!