~ Fall, 2008 ~
Another great photo op
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This first photograph was
taken from our back yard, facing north-east. The tall tree is a maple, and the smaller, shorter tree in the bottom
center of the photo is a Japanese maple. Though we do not often see truly vibrant color in the fall in these parts (mostly leaves just turn brown and fall off), the 2008 fall season in Carolina was another exception to the rule, leaving us with some of the most awesome colors before drying up, fading to brown and falling off. |
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The start of fall color here in central North Carolina started late this year. Normally our colors begin to turn the second week or so of October, with peak color between the third week of October and Halloween. This year leaves did not start to turn until the end of October, and are, as of the writing of these words on November 12, 2008, just coming out of peak color and beginning to drop their leaves. Usually I find a scant few colorful leaves for decorating the center of my dining room table for Thanksgiving. This year I will have far more than plenty from which to choose. |
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Another big deal this year is
the acorns - quantity, size AND quality - something we have seen a LOT
of this year, and this year they are HUGE. Though we live in the midst of hundreds of acres of pine forest, we are also heavily wooded with oaks - white and yellow oak mostly. It seems conditions this spring and summer were SO good we have been experiencing a bonzer year for the acorns. |
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When acorns first began to drop out of the trees it scared the crap out of me- At first I thought it was a small-ish handgun, maybe a 22 pistol, but it didn't make any sense coming from above my head. After the first couple I thought the sound was reminiscent of the noise squirrels made rolling and chasing acorns across the roof of my sister's trailer thirty years ago, an impossible 'do' on the roof of a regular house with regular shingles and a regularly-pitched roof... |
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Standing on the back deck one day just a week or ten days ago I could not help but think, It sounds like it's raining acorns! and it did. Walking in either the front OR back yards was dangerous... the acorns this year were nearly as big as my thumb, and something that big falling to the ground from twenty to fifty feet in the air can almost leave a permanent mark on the head! |
Anyway, the colors this fall of 2008 were
just awesome! I kept forgetting to take pictures until it was almost too late.
As it is, these images were taken when it was fairly heavily overcast, and
working toward the end of the daylight, so darker than could have been. Despite
all those difficulties going against them, I think you will agree these
photographs are great!
Hope you enjoyed!
