Rosa canina hips

green quince leaves!

oregon grape

lodgepole pine

sadly, the top fell out of this pine in the heavy snow

grapes

ginkgo

rhododendron

eucalyptus

ponderosa pine

hybrid rosehip

sword fern

November

In September I heard (was it the farmer's almanac?) that the rains wouldn't come until November. Well, it's November 3rd, and they've been here in force for about 24 hours. Finally the creek is rushing, and the view out the door is a mess of lines. This is just how November ought to be. :--)

(This is my jasmine.)

winter is here in earnest

There is frost every night, and the woodstove is going 24 hours a day. The daring flowers that still blossomed (nasturtium, rosemary, echinacea, hazel, etc.) have suddenly shriveled and faded, their stems left mushy by the night's ice-crystals. And the trees that were billows of colour a few days ago are dropping their leaves en masse, now. Here are a few photos of the leaves...

japanese maple leaves

horse chestnut leaves

ginkgo leaves

aspen leaves

Happy Halloween!

This cold crisp evening -- the first of winter -- I walked under the stars, crunched the dry freezing leaves underfoot, and photographed the red maple reaching for the night.

winter

The end of October is here, and suddenly the forcefully warm fall has broken into winter. Tonight I expect the first frost.

fireweed seeds from the meadow