Spring Into Autumn

 

"I think the seasons complete me... for once autumn comes I can fall freely along with every leaf. I don nit have to bloom, yet I must die in ever delicate line of October."

 

~Laura Chouette

 

 

About a month ago, or so, we paid a visit to one of my favorite autumn trees, the gorgeous Judas tree in Ione, California. We had a lot of rain this past winter and a little into the spring, so it gave the tree plenty of water that it had been missing due to drought conditions. I am, hopeful that it will produce a beautiful display of autumn color come the fall. It was sad to see it so dry last year, and have no way to help it. Now there is a lot to look forward too.

 

Ione, California

Autumn, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

Gathering Leaves And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #10

 

Gathering Leaves

By Robert Frost

 

Spades take up leaves

no better than spoons,

 And bags full of leaves  

are as light as balloons.

 

They make a great noise

of rustling all day

like rabbit and deer

running away.

 

But the mountains I raise

elude my embrace

flowing over my arms

and into my face.

 

I may load and unload 

again and again

Till I fill the whole shed

and what then?

 

Next to nothing for weight

and since they grew duller

from contact with earth

next to nothing for color.

 

Next to nothing for use

but a crop is a crop

and who's to say where

the leaves shall stop. 

 

The leaves above are from a Judas tree, that exists for the time being, at a park and ride in the El Dorado County town of, Ione, California. You may remember me mentioning Ione, when I post about one of my favorite spooky places ever, Preston Castle. Anyway, it has been one of the best sources I have had for finding autumn color in a safe place, and by that, I mean as a place easy to get to, off the road, and not too far into the Sierra foothills. But the last couple years it has become more and more apparent that the town of Ione would rather watch these trees die, than give them a little water. I don't live there, so I feel funny about complaining, I don't know what their budget is, I just know my heart hurts for these beautiful trees. The drought has destroyed so much of the beauty of California, and I feel these trees are just one more casualty. Pray for rain in California, or do some positive visualization, or please, if you can, send some hope their way. I don't want to see their beauty lost forever. 

 

Also from the Judas tree...

 

~Me

A Change Of Direction

"Whether you take the doughnut hole as a blank space or as an entity unto itself is purely metaphysical question and does not affect the taste of the doughnut one bit."

~Haruki Murakami

A Wild Sheep Chase

Okay, so one night of NO sleep leads to a temporary postponement of our trip to Plumas. The leaf peeping is now rescheduled for this coming Sunday, October 24th! But all was not lost yesterday because we drove to Apple Hill instead. And our first stop, of course, was Rainbow Orchards for some fresh, hot, Apple Cider Doughnuts! It's just not really fall without them! Next we took a leasurly drive up the hill into South Lake Tahoe! It was cold, and dark... the perfect autumn day for enjoying the moodiness of autumn! The air was so cold and so clean, but the lake nearly broke my heart! 

There was no snow on the hills, and you could tell the lake had dropped. It wasn't it's usual pristine loveliness, instead it seemed like it was feeling the age of the year, just like I have been. The stress of the long, hot dry summer was showing. This drought is devastating! I hope the experts are right about the prediction of the coming El Nino. We need some rain to brighten our spirit and bring the color back to our trees, and our cheeks. Life has to take an upturn soon... right? I didn't see a single colorful tree along HWY 50! It nearly made me cry.

Let's just hope the coming El Nino won't do too much damage, as it rights the wrongs caused by the drought! God, when it rains... it pours!

 Leaf Of The Day

October 21st 2015

Mood: Okay

~Me :)