Douglas County, Missouri
October 2, 2020
(36 degrees Fahrenheit)
We went looking for Autumn earlier this week and really didn’t find it. This area is where we generally find the most vibrant colors in the Fall, but those colors are still almost a month away. However, if we stay as dry as we are right now, there may only be brown on those hillsides by late October.
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Here is what this view looked like on November 2, 2013:
The mornings this week have been really cool — usually about 42 degrees! So one morning, when I went on my morning walk, instead of going down to the road I decided to walk in the woods and search for fall color. I found a little here and there. It was about right for September 29th — I checked all my September photos from 2012 through last year and none of them showed much color yet. In fact, according to my photos from past years it doesn’t seem to really start turning until late October.
So what did I find? At 42 degrees? One thing I did not think I would find was ticks! (I was sadly mistaken!) I did find that the most vivid reds right now are Virginia Creeper, which shows up quite vividly around the dead limbs of an old Black Walnut tree in our woods:
But it doesn't just limit itself to the Black Walnut trees. It is showing up among the still green leaves on this oak tree:
And in the middle, among the Black Walnut leaves are some yellow Eastern Cottonwood(?) leaves:
It is everywhere and when the sun shines through it it lights up like a lantern:
Sycamore and Sassafras leaves are turning orange:
Sassafras:
And the leaves on some small sugar maple saplings are turning bright red (not so much the larger trees yet):
It looks colorful up close, but if you back off a little, it is hard to tell that Autumn is here. (OK, this is cheating a little since it is all Shortleaf Pine trees in the foreground):
But if you look hard enough you can see a little color here and there. This tree below is visible below the bottom branches on the left side of the pine tree in the center of the previous photo:
Meanwhile, the dogwood trees are all turning colors. But they are turning several different colors at once. Some are turning a softer shade — almost pink:
Some are much deeper colors:
Persimmon leaves are turning yellow:
The fruit is not yet ripe:
But just like before, you hardly notice the color changes when you look at the whole scene. There is a lot of GREEN:
But it does show up as a welcome splash of color when you get a little closer, such as the pale orange foliage on this tree:
...Or the bright orange/red foliage on this tree. It really stands out because it is framed by trees that are still mostly green and has the pale blue sky behind it:
But what I am really looking forward to is another spectacular Fall like we haven’t had in several years so I can see these scenes in person again — these are at Denlow Little Zion Baptist Church Cemetery:
Until then I will keep searching for whatever color I can find!
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Now It's Your Turn
What have you noted happening in your area or travels recently? As usual post your observations as well as their general location in the comments.