Monday Musings and Memories

Knowing the nice days are numbered as the air carries the crisp bite of fall, we drove through the backroads again this weekend. Armed with my trusty camera, Gus in the backseat, and a thermos of coffee, we took off for parts unknown to us. After making sure no cars followed,  we barely moved through the quiet spots where time slows and nature puts on a show. Below are a few pics from our ramble—captured moments that remind me why autumn is my favorite season for photography. 

Crab Apple Tree

First up, this crabapple tree reminded me of days long ago when they made a wonderful addition to a mud pie meal. Look at those ruby-red fruits hanging like ornaments against the fading green leaves! I caught it in the late afternoon light, when the sun dips low and turns everything into a warm ember. There's something almost magical about crabapples in fall. They once held the promise of mom's jelly. Now I think of them solely as a feast for the wildlife. Don't try eating them off the tree, they're way too tart.

Willow Trees

Along a pond's edge, I couldn't resist this row of willow trees. Their slender branches sway gracefully, dancing with the breeze, often dipping toward the water. Willows always make me think of lazy summer days spent fishing in our pond with my brother. These trees are water lovers, thriving where land meets water. They're a haven for dragonflies and frogs, and on windy days like today, their whispers sound like secrets shared between old friends.

Milkweed

Finally, as rain clouds move in, we saw the star of the show, a milkweed pod, burst open and ready to send its fluffy seeds to parts unknown. I spotted it tucked among the tall grasses, the cottony strands glowing like dandelion wishes. Remember squeezing your eyes shut, making a wish, then blowing a mighty breath to send the dandelion seeds off on their quest to make it come true?  Not an easy feat with milkweed pods. Monarch butterflies owe their epic migrations to these plants—each seed holds the potential for new growth, a lifeline for the next generation of pollinators.

Linking to Nature Notes