It's Started.

Redoverfarm · October 01, 2008, 07:01:40 PM

Fall officially began and the signs are obvious. Although early this year I would not expect the colors to be a vivid as past years due to the lack of rainfall. I thought I would let some of the less fortunate ( lack of seasons) to see the color change. The hickory are the first with the maple to follow. It is usually during the last of the season when the oaks and others turn. Our peak is usually October 10-15th. I will try to get a few more pictures in the weeks to come. Really a nice scene in fall.

A nearby field with the maple in full swing. The hill behind (behind the house) is just starting.

Cabin on the mountain a little higher elevation

Just another sign as the deer which have been regulars since the scrub apple started dropping to the ground at the house.

The worst part is that WINTER is just around the corner.

ScottA · October 01, 2008, 07:10:05 PM

Very pretty around your area. I was in WV in early October of 2002 and was very nice. Took a ride on the Cass RR to the top of Bald Knob, I think it's called, mountain. We won't see fall colors around here till around halloween.

October 01, 2008, 07:46:31 PM

Up in the Jemez, at a little higher altitude, the tress are beginning to change. Only yellows for the most part.

Redoverfarm · October 01, 2008, 09:15:13 PM

Scott I think I commented before that I am only about 20 or so miles from Cass. Busy part of the Season for them with all the "leaf lookers". Probably standing room only aboard the old Shay's.

Sassy · October 01, 2008, 09:29:43 PM

What a tranquil, beautiful scene! That's one thing I'll always remember from the time I lived in Mass near Springfield (my dad was stationed at Westover AFB). I loved collecting the big, colorful leaves

October 01, 2008, 10:13:11 PM

New England calls the Leaf Peepers IIRC.

peternap · October 02, 2008, 06:47:24 AM

Really pretty John.

We are just starting to see the blush. I'm off in a few minutes to start Deer season.

fishing_guy · October 02, 2008, 12:26:24 PM

It's changing by our up-north property also. From a fishing trip to a nearby lake:

Gotta keep my fishing partner happy:

The trees were absolutely beautiful, especially the Maples.

glenn kangiser · October 02, 2008, 12:43:51 PM

Nice -- we don't get as much color here. The leaves mostly turn brown and drop off but there are some areas of color.

October 02, 2008, 11:13:51 PM

Maples are probably my favorite tree...though almost any hardwood not a poplar is gorgeous in my book...I loathe stickerballs...But Sweetgums are beautiful as well... It is hard to beat fall in the North East

Great Pics

MountainDon · October 03, 2008, 12:17:36 AM

Here in NM there's a spot in the east mountains that has a canyon full of colorful deciduous tress, including maples. rare for the desert. Many make the pilgrimage each fall.

benevolance · October 03, 2008, 02:15:23 AM

I never would have guessed you had Maples in New Mexico

MountainDon · October 03, 2008, 09:24:12 AM

I don't know how many. That's the only place I know of. It's in the Cibola National Forest. There's a campground there, called the Fourth of July Campground; named for the colors, not the calendar. Lots of Oaks there too.

benevolance · October 03, 2008, 06:29:31 PM

maybe they were placed there...I think if you wikipedia the maple tree it would not list New Mexico as an area that it grew... I would not be suprised if it was planted there...and if it has access to ground water it can do okay...

Sort of like how they have orange trees here in South Carolina and they do okay... not great but okay

October 06, 2008, 10:47:02 PM

Wouldn't it be great if their was a tree-sized maple to plant in our landscapes that was native to the interior West (Rocky Mountain /Intermountain area)? What if this maple had fall color to rival a sugar maple (Acer saccharum), extreme cold tolerance, good drought resistance, tolerance of fairly high soil pH, and could even be tapped for maple syrup production? Well, such a tree does exist. It's called Canyon Maple or Bigtooth Maple Acer grandidentatum

http://extension.usu.edu/forestry/HomeTown/Select_CanyonMaple.htm

also...

http://www.gardenguides.com/plants/plant.asp?symbol=ACGLN2
http://www.gardenguides.com/plants/plant.asp?symbol=ACGLG2

peternap · October 07, 2008, 04:01:11 AM

We're getting a little change now but the drought is going to take a lot of the splendor off this year.

The wildflowers are still going strong.

Redoverfarm · October 10, 2008, 04:20:01 PM

Well with about 1/2 of the peeper season over here is what it looks like in a weeks time. About another week or so and it will start to look dreary.

Redoverfarm · October 12, 2008, 06:39:53 AM

Yesterday was Chili on the mountain day. An informal annual event that my wife's family has been doing for the last several years around this time of the year. Everyone takes chilli, french bread, desert to an overlook on Elk Mountain on the Scenic Highway ( Route # 150). The elevation is about 4,500 ft which is about 2,000 ft above my house. The colors of the leaves are more advanced up there. In the long distance views is my house and cabin which is about 4-5 mountain ranges away. The last mountian is in Virginia near Hot Springs ( Home of the Homestead and Sam Snead). Although the pictures do not do the view justice as in real life the ranges are more prominent. Hope you enjoy the pics.

glenn kangiser · October 12, 2008, 10:46:29 AM

That is about your tallest mountain, isn't it, John.

Sorry, I couldn't resist

Beautiful scenery though.

Redoverfarm · October 12, 2008, 11:42:44 AM

No Glenn it isn't. The tallest in the county is at Snowshoe Resort which is just about 1 mile high with the resort structure. The actual higest without any modification is at 4,863 feet above sea level, Spruce Knob is West Virginia's highest peak. I am sure that some of your elevation on the West Coast are higher but for the east in the Applachains that is pretty good considering that we had to cut off the top to make the farmland below

.

October 12, 2008, 11:47:47 AM

from my aunt in PA:

http://picasaweb.google.com/gandalfthegrey1/MyPhotos#5256309629767880178

Redoverfarm · October 12, 2008, 11:51:51 AM

gandalfthegrey looks like they are further north and about 1 week ahead of us. What part of PA?

gandalfthegrey · October 12, 2008, 01:42:58 PM

Coudersport in Potter county.

Redoverfarm · October 12, 2008, 02:06:38 PM

Looks like if the founding fathers would have closed their eyes a few minutes longer they would have been in NY.

Redoverfarm · October 19, 2008, 12:48:13 PM

This is about the last of the leaves. This was taken Saturday on the mountain top. The majority have gone the other way now with the exception of some in the valleys at their peak. With some showers on late Friday evening a lot fell to the ground.

This is about the same location that I took a picture early in my Dogtrot post.

The sunrise was Friday morning from the front door.

Getting ready for winter with some late grazing in front of the house. These are regulars that I guess have found a safe haven.