The Fall Foliage of 2015

As I'm writing this post in my kitchen, I have an amazing view of the trees around our home, most of which are changing color.  There's nothing like having the fall foliage of the east coast right outside your door, and as you can probably guess, this is definitely my favorite time of year.  If I'm lucky and have a free afternoon, I take a walk around the trails, field and areas near the house with my camera in order to capture what the landscape looks like.  Comparisons from year to year really are eye openers for us, because there are some years when it is quite disappointing to find the foliage unremarkable due to weather conditions in the weeks leading up to October.

This particular season we have been very fortunate in having a superb display by mother nature.  Spring and summer give us splashes of color through the various shrubs and showy flowers, but when the fall season comes around, it's the deciduous trees which show us their natural beauty.  This seasonal spectacle is due to the breaking down of chlorophyl in the leaves, which results from changes in the length of daylight and shifts in temperature.  Depending on what part of the country you live in, the timetable of leaf changes will vary throughout the month of October.  Ours happens to be right now.

As I have made my way around our home in the past few weeks, I have really stopped to take in the views of the trees from various points of reference.  Whether I’m making my way up the driveway to head out for one of my walks around town, or if I decide to stroll around the barn and the field behind it, I have my moments where I just have to stop and be in complete awe.

The driveway must get swept on a weekly basis.

It’s hard to imagine that only a short while ago, everything was still quite green.  Last week I remarked on the fact that some trees off in the distance were already turning yellow, but just days ago, the timing was perfect to start photographing. Everything was simply beautiful.

Take a little walk with me and see what Pennsylvania looks like right now, because it doesn't get any better than this.   

This photograph was taken last week, and as you can see, the leaves are a slightly yellowish-green.  When the leaves of the trees take on this chartreuse tone, I know that within the week everything will be yellow, red, orange, burgundy and perhaps even a dark mulberry or deep raisin color.

It's very important to look up as you are standing under some of the oaks, maples, beeches and lindens, because things can be quite magnificent. 

I could have stayed in this spot for a while simply gazing at the foliage on this overcast afternoon.  The color palette was so amazing to me.

One of my favorite trees here on the property is a majestic beech tree right in front of the house.  It stands between the house and the barn, and when the timing is right, the tree is out of this world.  

This photograph taken on October 25th, 2015 from the center hall of the second floor of our home doesn't do it justice.  Trust me when I tell you that the tree is stately, marvelous and quite splendid all year round.

All of the photographs below were taken on October 27th, 2015

in

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Having been blown free of leaves only hours before this, the driveway was looking clean.  During the fall, however, the clean look doesn't last.  A wind here, a breeze there, will make the leaves fall off in droves.  Within days everything will be covered until the next clean up.

Some trees, as you can see, have already shed all of their leaves.  The locusts, in particular, are always the first of the specimen trees to become completely bare of leaves.  They are among the tallest here at home.  These bare trees look so forlorn and gloomy, but in a matter of weeks everything will be just as bleak.

I love this area near the barn patio.  Several oak, black walnut and beech trees, along with a couple of dogwoods (the red-leaf specimens), reside here.  It's not uncommon to find great, big walnut casings littered throughout the driveway.  If split open, the black walnuts dye the pavement because of their hard inner layer of black pericarp.   

Many of my friends near and far have been sharing photographs through social media of what their homes look like right now, and from Colorado to North Carolina, everything looks spectacular.  It's really a time of year when we should all be enjoying the landscape, whether it be through taking a walk, a jog through a park, a stroll through a neighborhood or even a last-of-the-season cookout.  

Yet another beech tree that I greatly admire.  This tall tree with its vast root system flanks the long driveway.  It has an 'eye' where once a large branch used to grow.  The tree provides a good amount of shade through the spring and summer, but during fall, it makes a beautiful presentation of colorful foliage.

The fall foliage this time of year is so breathtaking whenever I drive up or walk along our driveway.  I always feel the urge to start photographing whether it be through using my cellphone (least favorite method) or my digital camera. Although this gives you an idea of what it looks like right now, you really need to be here in person in order to get the full effect of the color palette.  

Our neighbors across the way have a really beautiful maple tree which is so remarkable.  Aren't the colors gorgeous?

Standing next to the cedar split-fence area, I get a panoramic view of the sloping hill and driveway.  Some evergreen trees, a few dogwoods, maples and oaks cover this area with a lush canopy during the spring and summer, but at the moment, they're getting ready to complete their leaf transformation before they become bare.

The Field

I wish we could enjoy the glorious moments of the fall foliage for weeks and weeks, but the sensational spectacle is short-lived.  Now is the time we should all take a pause from our busy lives so that we can appreciate how much beauty mother nature gives us.  Yes, we are all engaged with planning for the approaching holidays with countless baking projects, cooking of meals and entertaining of friends & family, but our overall well-being should include a bit of activity outdoors.  Whether you decide to take a walk, a quick jog or a hike through an open area in your town or city, be aware of the changes around you. Don't forget to have a camera handy so that you too can capture the fall foliage in your part of the country.