flowering in october

alder is a common tree in minnesota, but it likes wetlands mostly, and i like walking on dry land. so whole i know it is always near me when i walk–over there by the water’s edge–i rarely get up close and personal with it. so, i was super puzzled when i found this alder tree in minneapolis, planted by the city as a boulevard tree.  hmmm, a little weird, but at least they are planting native trees. anyway, the interesting thing about alders are these woody cones. they look just like pine cones once they dry out and open up to release their seeds. but they are not cones, they are the female flower (catkin).  why this alder is flowering in october, in a urban minnespolis is all very confusing to me. but i’ve only ever seen alder cones in their brown (open) form…so this was  treat,

alder cones (Alnus)/ female alder catkins

beeeeeeeeeeeep beeeeeeeeeeeeep beeeeeeeeeeeeep

This is a Public Service Announcement: This warning affects all States and Provinces of the Great Lakes North. Peak color is expected for the next several weeks. Please make appropriate preparations and act accordingly. This warning is in effect until further notice. <end>

autumn leaves gathered on september 30th, 2023

magnificent mud

not the most beautiful photo. but interesting. barn swallows were are nightly companion when we lived in autignac, france. we watched then circle and swoop in the fading light each evening as we we enjoyed a glass of wine made by our friends on the terrace, while a man several doors down played his harmonica (i am not making this up). i know we have barn swallows here in minnesota, but i rarely see them in my suburban setting. my friend michele, who lives farther out of the cities, was recently having here porch insulated, and the contractors needed to remove a dozen swallow nests. after they destroyed several, she frantically waved them to a halt, and saved the last two for me. i love that STILL has worked itself in the psyches of my friends and family. it warms my heart. thank you chel.

barn sparrow nests (Hirundo rustica)

maroon and gold

the university of minnesota color are maroon and gold. (go golden gophers!) this week i got a call about doing some work for the u of m landscape arboretum, so, naturally, i have been seeing nothing but maroon and gold since that call. i love how generous nature is.

maple and honeylocust leaves in autumn

what is it with transition seasons?

here in the north, our seasonal transition are oftentimes fast and furious. sometimes as short as a week. one day it’s verdant, 80 degrees and warm breezes from the south, an the next week is 65 degrees, winds from the north, and frost threats. that’s how we roll. for someone who loves to capture nature in transition, the speed can bit a bit daunting. but there is something more going on with transition seasons that seems to affect the human animals. i would swear on a stack of bibles, that every winter-to-spring transition, and every summer-to-fall transition (in other words, every equinox), humans collectively decide it is time to GET SHIT DONE. i have dad more print requests, commission requests, and publisher deadlines in the last week than i had in the past three months collectively. okay , everybody, i appreciate the interest. but, really, can’t it wait one more week?

white oak leaves in autumn