no frost yet

I just googled to remind myself when the average historic first frost is in the Twin Cities: “The average or typical first fall freeze in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area is October 10 to October 11”. Welp, so we are two weeks behind average, which is not unheard of. But what is crazy is that I just looked at the forecast and there is no frost threat for two weeks. I am making hay, as they say, capturing as mush of the remaining fall color as I possibly can because as soon as November’s gray blanket descends, STILL will start to look very different.

Autumn Blaze Maple (Acer × freemanii ‘Jeffersred’), a hybrid tree bred from a cross between red maple (Acer rubrum) and silver maple (Acer saccharinum)

going all in

Any of you who check in here regularly probably know by now that when we Hoffmans are piqued by a new interest we go ALL IN. We don’t just casually learn a few facts nor spend an hour down an internet rabbit hole to satisfy our curiosity and then move on. Ohhh, no. We can become singular in our attention, and our devotion, and maybe even borderline obsessed. Right now, Steve is in that uniquely Hoffman place with hazelnuts. He is under assignment to write an article on them, due next week, which triggered an entire autumn affair. So now we buy hazelnut oil, hazelnut flour, hazelnut cookies, hazelnut granola and trail mixes, any and all chocolate bars with hazelnuts, and of course, the nuts themselves. Steve has ordered books from Europe, visited hazelnut farms, harvested with the U of M researchers, and walked trails with experts. He probably has enough material to write a book on hazelnuts. But instead he has only a 1200 word article to work within. But that is how we roll at our house. These are hazelnut leaves from the U of M’s hazelnut research center. Hazelnuts are in the birch family, but their fall leaves are so much more colorful than our native birches. Who knew? Steve probably did.

hazel tree (or hazelnut bush) autumn leaves

sparrow grass

I love happening up a patch of feral asparagus in the fall with its golden ferny needle-like leaves (cladodes) and brilliant orange berries. Did you know that asparagus is sometimes called “sparrow grass” in England? The English word asparagus originally derives from Medieval Latin sparagus. I like eating asparagus; I don’t love it. But I do love seeing it along my trails in October.

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)

late bloomers

Do you feel like you are being stared at when you look at this image? I do.

I had no idea dahlias were so hardy––continuing to bloom into late October. These surely must mark be the end of our season. Here a few interesting facts about dahlias:

Dahlias are native to Mexico and Central America. Dahlia relatives include the sunflower, daisy, chrysanthemum, and zinnia. There are 49 species of dahlia, with flowers in almost every hue (except blue), with hybrids commonly grown as garden plants. Dahlias were known only to the Aztecs and other southern North American peoples until the Spanish conquest, after which the plants were brought to Europe.

last dahlias of the Twin Cities season

even the lilacs go in on the action

Even the lilacs joined the party this fall. It was one of the prettiest leaf displays I can ever remember.
And now it’s raining. Badly needed, but sadly putting and end to the leafy festivities. What a show it was!

lilac leaves in autumn (Syringa vulgaris)