November 3

Thursday, Remi stayed home while I returned to Forest Hill Nature Area for my weekly nature hike. The early morning weather was cloudy and foggy with a temperature of 50 degrees and no wind. Parking the car next to Brady Cemetery, I followed the trail west through a green-less field where thicket willows still displayed some of their yellow leaves. Up ahead, I spotted a couple of crows perched on a tall snag as they announced their presence. Continuing west, I got off the trail and walked through the wet grass to the edge of Sora Swale where I paused to look at and listen to the peaceful surroundings. Turning north, I passed Artist Overlook where the trail leaf litter was dominated first by maple and then by aspen. Turning south into South Woods, I paused as a breeze blew down a few more of the remaining leaves. Exiting the woods, I turned west through Birch Row and then turned north where the leaf litter indicated I was walking under mostly oaks. Continuing east around Succession Field, I turned north and hiked through North Woods where a few maple and beech trees still held their leaves. Exiting the woods, I headed south to Willow Wallow and turned east where I followed the trail to the top of Reflection Hill just in time to watch a formation of noisy geese fly overhead. As a chilly north wind picked up, I looked down on Grebe Pond where I counted a couple dozen floating geese honking nervously at my presence. Also, on the north end of the pond, a crab apple tree with its yellow leaves and red fruit caught my eye. Next, I headed south down the hill and walked over to the cemetery where the leaf litter showed lots of needles shed by the large White Pine trees. Finally, I jumped in the car and headed home.

Nature opens November

With much to share

Leaves of the litter

Capture my stare

Crimson and orange

Amber and gold

Adorn the ground

A thousand-fold

Part of the mix

Needles of pines

Brown and brittle

Mid autumn signs

D. DeGraaf