The Storms of Winter

Hurricane Sandy seems to have ushered in winter this year in southwestern Ohio. We are getting only the outermost bands of the severe storm that’s pounding the East Coast, but nevertheless, Sandy has brought gusty winds, heavy rain and sharp cold to our region, and we’ll certainly get more as the storm ploughs northward on its expected path through central Pennsylvania, about 250 miles east of here.

Even before Sandy, the nightly serenade of crickets that lasted throughout the summer had faded to a memory. A spectacular show of autumn leaves rapidly gave way to barren forests that will dominate the landscape for months. The tomatoes and other plants in our vegetable garden have been pulled out and tossed. And now, clueless yearling deer peer back at my headlight-shine on local roads at night. There’s even a forecast for snow this evening – the first of the season.

The Back Yard: A Timeline

January 2, 2012

February 10, 2012

March 10, 2012

April 10, 2012

May 10, 2012

June 10, 2012

July 10, 2012

August 13, 2012

September 10, 2012

October 10, 2012

Autumn Musings

In the last few weeks we’ve experienced a delightful transition from late summer to autumn, with cool temperatures and sunny skies interspersed with much-needed rain showers. As the temp dipped into the 30s over the weekend, we had our first fire of the year in the fireplace, while outside, all through the forest, the trees are turning various hues of red, orange and gold.

Goldenrod and white and purple asters have bloomed late in the season here

One of the most surprising things for me this autumn, though, is the late blooming of many wildflowers. You’d think they would bloom in the spring or summer, but it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that many of them appeared, particularly on the margins of our yard: yellow goldenrod, white and purple asters, and black elderberry — which, in contrast to its name, produces a white flower and grows everywhere in the forest understory.

Fall is perhaps the most beautiful season here. It’s indisputably the one with the best weather.