After Hallowe’en but Before Christmas

Photo ©DCarew

It’s been a glorious fall and still a few leaves linger on some trees. But the weather is showing signs that fall is ready to leave the stage and welcome in winter.

This is an “in-between” kind of season but it has attractions all its own.

A big thank you to our guest columnist last month, Dennis Vanderspek. Both he and his wife, Lisa Stefaniuk, our other guest columnist, write beautifully–not only beautifully but their observations and thoughts are very much worth reading.  I am very grateful to have such gifted nature writers help me shoulder the burden of writing this column. And I hear time and again how much readers appreciate the information and insights combined with a love and respect of the natural world.

The rains of fall and early winter have come, thank heavens! After a very dry summer they are extremely welcome by gardeners and by the plants and animals. This morning, after a torrential rain overnight and through much of Sunday (38 mm in my backyard rain gauge!), I was interested to see and hear juncos in my backyard. These attractive slate-grey birds have migrated south to our area for the winter from their breeding grounds further north. I don’t know if they are one of the species that migrates during the night, but if they are they were flying through heavy rain. They are one of the many species that stay during the cold season and make our winters more enjoyable.

Here in the wetland upstream from the millpond, and in many other local wetlands, there are large expanses of cat-tails. They are attractive during all seasons. The movement, the sound, and the play of light off their leaves is always a delight. But it is especially at this time that I think they are most impressive. The warm browns and the glint of sun off their leaves never cease to cause me to pause and admire.

For those who walk our trails, please be aware that much of Baxter Creek Trail is closed because of flooding. The beavers have been busy making and repairing dams; and the resulting backup of water has flooded parts of this trail. I know that beavers can cause grief and aggravation like this on public and private land. But I always remember what an impression it made on me years ago listening to a biologist talking about beaver. She said the job of the beaver is “re-connecting wetlands”. Wetlands are important and are all too often sacrificed because they don’t fit into our perceived “needs”.

Have you ever seen such a bumper crop of Black Walnuts?! Many have fallen but a good many are still clinging to branches. The green fruit look like some weird variety of citrus. I think that again this year I will take the time to gather some, remove the husks, let them dry and then attempt to free the delicious meat from the granite-hard shells. But at the farmers’ market this morning in conversation with local pig farmer, Tom Staples, he was telling me his pigs relish the walnuts and can actually eat the husk, shell and meat. Can I get him to take away the walnuts here that I don’t want? Walkers must be careful when out for a walk. Walnuts on the ground can present a real hazard.

The last of the autumn crocus are just finishing in my garden. They are small, fragile things yet beautiful and they give me great joy. They are just like their cousins the spring-flowering bulbs, but they finish the gardening season.

Don’t think there aren’t things to do and see  at this season after Hallowe’en and before Christmas! Get out! And enjoy!

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