Though we're already a third of the way through October, it still doesn't look very autumnish here along the river. Green is not just the predominant color still—in many directions it's the only color…though some of the greens are admittedly looking a little jaundiced.
This dawdling yellowish-green landscape is, I think, partly due to the river location itself—a result of extra moisture and possibly a measure of protection by being lower than all surrounding areas. I know fall color always seems late in arriving hereabouts, when just up the hill and up the road, maples may already be flaming away.
But not this year…at least not yet. There's simply not much in the way of fall color to be seen anywhere around. And given that summer's latter half was a season of heat and drought, it's anyone's guess as to whether this will much of a bright color year or mostly a bust. Another two weeks will give the answer.
In the meantime, the river—low and clear, looking more than a bit emaciated with so many rocks showing in the riffles—will continue to flow like a slow-moving mirror, doubling the view of leaning sycamore and blue sky above…and everywhere, the lingering green.
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20 comments:
We were teased for one week of temps in the 40's in the mornings and highs of 60, and this week, we're being slammed back into late summer with highs in the high 80's... what gives? I am ready for F-A-L-L. :c)
Jayne…
Yup, we had the same weather here—night lows in the low-40s, daytime highs mid-50s to low-60s…now today is supposed to be 83˚F. And as you can see, not much color.
This is a strange fall…
For a moment when I saw your heading I thought it was a shade of green I had not heard of - having read your post then I think it couldwell be just that. Each time you post photographs of your river I love it more.
HI GRIZZ-
same weather here and still mostly green, as well. My brook is barely a trickle and the pond out front is still and covered over with a green blanket of moss. The bull frogs are quieter and the sunnies left and went upstream. It is a strange Fall, indeed. I love your pictures and how you describe nature on the river. :-)
loving you
Gail
peace.....
Only a few widely-scattered trees have significant color here in the central Mid-Atlantic, too. Each one that does is a real standout because it's so different from its neighbors. The only exception to this generality are the dogwoods, which are all deep maroon.
Weaver…
Hmmmm…Lingering Green? Guess it could be a shade, somewhere between Olive Green and Pear Green, with a bit of Hunter Green and Sap Green thrown in.
The shot you see is looking across from the cottage and slightly upstream, and was taken midafternoon yesterday. The hen mallard was in the Cottage Pool, the upper part of which, as you can see, is now only a few inches deep; normally it would be a couple of feet.
Gail…
No harrumping frogs here, but plenty of crickets and similar insect singers. You can see how low the river is. And that duck would usually have to be paddling, as the water would be a couple of feet deep with a bit of current.
Thank you…and I hope you're feeling better and have a nice weekend in the works. Take care.
Scott…
Here, too (well, up the road from here) we also have a few scattered maples that are turning. And like yours, they certainly stand out among the green. But the dogwoods are not their typical maroon, and even Virginia creeper and sumac are sort of anemic in color.
However, most years, the real color peak comes about the 22nd-to-25th. So all is not lost…yet—though I'm not banking on this one being a dazzler.
Though we have come close to frost levels in the Montreal area - the colors are still very muted. At least the water level in the St. Laurence is finally up to about normal. The mild winter and dry spring kept water levels at a neat all-time low. ATB!
Rusty…
This is the lowest I've even seen the river—not just during the few years I've lived beside it, but at any time in my life, as I've known the stream well since childhood.
I have a small piece of land on Lake Superior, and I can't help but wonder how low the water there is now—if at all. I'd bet the colors in the U.P. are gorgeous, though.
Green lingers here as well. I've been out looking for some interesting foliage to shoot, but the most I can find is a little yellow tint here and there. With the drought we've had for much of the summer, I doubt that the leaves are going to put on much of a show this year. Your header photo, however, is show enough for me. I love the way the light falls on the little grass hummock on the river's edge.
George…
I've been running to various stores, plus working around the cottage all day—so no real photo time today.
Glad you liked yesterday's river shot, though I kinda blew the highlight on that grassy patch you like. But I liked the overall light and mood.
Let's not give up on fall color just yet, drought or not. I believe that over the next couple of weeks, there'll be more color than we might now imagine.
Hi
perhaps Weaver was thinking of Lincoln Green as supposedly worn by Robin Hood.
We have some terrific colour combinations in the forest here but it has been a wetter than usual summer.
...Tramp
Tramp…
Actually, I think Weaver was being creative—while I was aiding and abetting.
Dry here, wet there…I expect we could have each used a bit of the other's weather. But then, that's what makes the round of the year interesting.
Grizz, Fall is strange here this year as well.....We haven't a leaf left on most of our trees, and we have very little green but the sun is shining and it is very warm. I don't remember a warmer Fall ever.
Seriously, much nicer than our summer.......:-) Hugs
Bernie…
Sounds like strange weather, indeed. I'd say for where you live and all, you're certainly experiencing a true bout of Indian Summer. And Indian Summer is always delightful. Take care…
We have too much green here too. I needed a picture of dead leaves to accompany the song by Yves Montand I placed in my last post – “Dead leaves” (Autumn Leaves in English) – so my husband and I had to walk all over our yard and pick leaves one by one and place them in a pile so I could take a couple of pictures. But I had to do a close-up as we did not gather that many!
Vagabonde…
Isn't it amazing what we'll do for a photo?
There seems to be more yellow here than when I took the shot for this post—but not a whole lot. And it might just be the warm sunlight. I'm still holding out hope for some color—but it's getting tougher.
Griz: It's only started to look more like fall here in the last 24-36 hours. The color still has a ways to go, but at least it's moving away from green now!
Carolyn H.
Carolyn…
The story is much the same here—Friday and Saturday yellowish-green (at best), yesterday an increased yellow and a hint of red, today farm more yellow and a bit more red. Not spectacular color, but way more than only a couple of days ago. Amazing how fast it can come on.
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