Peak Colour In The Acadian Forest

Fall colours along my local rails to trails route.

After living in the Acadian forest of Nova Scotia for 4 years I can say that it is every bit as splendid as was the coastal rain forest of Vancouver Island, BC. 

What my new forest lacks in sheer tree size compared to the west coast giants, it easily makes up in diversity and colour.

Historically, peak colour in Nova Scotia occurs some time in October, depending on the weather. This year we are pretty close to peak right now, based on what I see out of my window, as well as on recent bike rides into the wild woods.

What a pallet of colours - everything from green leaves denying the inevitable abscission about to take place, to the more advanced yellow, red, and orange. 

When the wind blows, the air becomes a leafy pointillist canvas for a moment, then is gone. Like a shredded Banksy painting. Or the warm temperatures.

A coolness is descending, and we just gathered around our first cozy wood fire of the season, but it is all beautiful. 

The trees teach us a valuable lesson in letting go of unnecessary things and moving on in the cycle of life. That's beautiful, too.

Last Day Of Summer 2018

Our backyard woods are beautiful this time of year.

Today is the last day of summer. That kind of snuck up on me. 

After a summer filled with many sunny days and high temperatures and humidity, I don't think I am mentally prepared for the cool weather conditions that we have shifted into already. 

I am happy to not have permanent heat exhaustion any more, although it was nice not needing bothersome things like clothes or blankets or supplemental heat for a few months. 

That really simplifies things.

This was the second summer drought in the last 3 years in our area. Many of our neighbours had the unfortunate experience of having a well go dry, again. You can't run a household without water. No water, no home.

We had a bit of a deterioration in our well's water quality, but not in quantity. It came to taste so bad that we had to pick up an on-tap filter system.

Tomorrow is the Equinox, when day and night are roughly the same length. From then until December 22, the hours of darkness increase, while our time in the sun decreases. Temperatures will rapidly drop off. 

I am beginning to come to terms with the change in season, again. Fifty-seven times I have been through this cycle, and it still feels like a surprise... or cruel joke. On the other hand, the woods changing colours, and brisk, crisp days, are something to be cherished.

We will just have to get used to getting fully dressed in the morning, after sleeping in a bed piled high with blankets. Wood stove, coats, gloves, toques (wool hats), and snow shoes now all have to be made ready. 

Problem is, my head and heart are still lounging in the garden. Onions, potatoes, carrots, and beets are still in the ground. We will can pickled beets over the weekend, while the wind and wet blow around outside. The rest can stay out for a while longer, since average first frost in this spot is some time between October 1 and 10th.

Happy last day of summer to Northern Hemispherians. Happy last day of winter to our Southern Hemispherian friends. Welcome fall/spring equinox.