Cat Got Your Tongue?

I usually walk around the pond in the park just a few steps from my front door. But every now and then, I like to take to the paths which surround another man-made lake about fifteen minutes by foot. Please join me.

As I approached the dock, I noticed a gull perched upon the railing. He sat there comfortably and watched me closely while I photographed him. I spoke to him as I snapped shots but he just stared back at me.

That bird kept his eye on me as I looked for other subjects to photograph. Some of the leaves were still fiery red.

Other plants had withered away to nearly-nothing.

As long as they're not stuck to your clothing or your dogs, burrs sure can be beautiful in all their thorny glory.

A backward glance told me that the gull was still staring.

In another direction, I saw another pair of eyes looking back at me. This plant is called White Baneberry or the very appropriate Doll's Eye. Its berries are highly poisonous so I snapped my photo and moved along.

Spindleberries are pretty plain throughout the summer, producing small greenish flowers. It's only when late summer arrives that they begin to turn into this brilliant pink flower which releases these bright orange seeds. They tend to hold on until some point during the winter, though their blooms begin to fade to a much duller, dryer colouring. Still, they look lovely against the snow.

Over by some houses, I found one of the few remaining red maple branches in the area. In the background, you can see a bicycle parked outside a back door.

When the camera came away from my eye, look who was still staring at me. I stared right back and asked him if he had something to say. He silently held his gaze. Finally I asked him "What's the matter.. did the cat get your tongue?"

He gleefully showed me that it certainly did not.

Thanks for joining me.

Shades of Autumn

There's no holding autumn back now. Subtle hues of honey and bisque have deepened into mature tones of amber and bronze. Fiery shades of scarlet and orange ignite and sear the countryside with their flames.

It's a particularly vibrant autumn this year. The sun's warmth carries the scent of fallen leaves, and where I walk, sweet-smelling apples are strewn across the path. The light fades early these evenings, and the nights are crisp and fresh. Indoors it seems right to have a pot of soup simmering on the stove, and if I enjoyed baking, there'd probably be an apple pie in the oven. Today, it's sunny but cool, so grab a jacket and zip it up. We're going for a walk.




The park path which winds around the lake displays its autumn foliage. You can see that there are still a large number of green leaves, and the grass is still healthy and lush. This is the reward from summer's frequent rain. (Please click to enlarge)




A small grove of trees proudly display their scarlet apparel. (Please click to enlarge)




At the base of a tree, a cluster of mushrooms appreciate the moisture from the earth around them. They explode in brilliant shades of copper and caramel as they peer out into the late-day sunshine. (Please click to enlarge)




There are many apple trees along the way. The fruit is sweet and tasty, but by now, all of the low-hanging branches have been picked clean. This duck was trying to grab this one out of the water, but was unsuccessful. (Please click to enlarge)




As the brilliant autumn leaves are reflected in the lake, this duck appears to be swimming in crayon-drawn colours. (Please click to enlarge)




Similarly, this cormorant preens before a backdrop of vibrant hues. (Please click to enlarge)




Up close, one could almost imagine that the lake is on fire. (Please click to enlarge)




The grass is dry. Let's sit for a bit and enjoy the beauty of this little pond. Can't you just feel your shoulders relax? (Please click to enlarge)



At the base of this stem, the leaves blush with tinges of crimson. As you look toward the tips, the red bleeds through and ignites the fronds. (Please click to enlarge)




The warm glow of red-orange maple leaves are classic Canadian autumn to me.




Back at home, vines grow across the fence, providing a colourful wall between my back yard and the neighbour's. (Please click to enlarge)




A purple leaf emerges from the green vine along the fence. (Please click to enlarge)

Now that our outing is done, grab a bowl and we'll have some butternut squash soup. The crisp, autumn night air will soon be upon us.