“What we do see depends mainly on what we look for. … In the same field the farmer will notice the crop, the geologists the fossils, botanists the flowers, artists the colouring, sportmen the cover for the game. Though we may all look at the same things, it does not all follow that we should see them.”
John Lubbock, The Beauties of Nature and the Wonders of the World We Live In
(This tree reminded me of the Whomping Tree at Hogwarts, taken from the inside of my car. I’ve had enough whomping lately. )
Still hobbled from my recent fall, long walks in nature have abated while my wanderlust has not. I miss my rambles, especially in this season when the trees paint the sky with the russets and amber and crimsons of Autumn and fallen leaves create tapestries of color at our feet.
Fall colors are peaking late this year, giving us one of the most colorful November I can remember. The trees are putting on a brilliant show, but, this late in the season, the color is likely to be short-lived. I was anxious to take a drive to take in the colorful leaves – so, I did, on a misty, moist midmorning this past week. The silver lining behind the broken footed cloud is that it is my left foot that has the fracture. I can safely drive with my right foot.
I meandered like a lazy river along the leafy lanes of the Arboretum. For the most part, I was alone, able to stop the car, roll down the windows, and take photos to my heart’s content.
Winding lanes and panoramic vistas
All-in-all, it was a luscious, leafy escape into nature’s grand, golden, glorious goodbye.
Where have you escaped to lately?
Lovely. Thank you twice over for suffering to give us this beauty.
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Thank you, thank you, thank you.
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The Arboretum gives pleasure to many people during all the seasons but especially to those of us who visit from home. Some of the photos are postcard quality. I am glad to hear that you are navigating your favorite paths during these gorgeous days. Thank goodness for cars you don’t have to shift!
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I forgot— a gorgeous red fox appeared in back of our property this morning!~ We imagine there is a den nearby. The fluffy red tail was magnificent!
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I am delighted to give you a home visit, Marilyn. 🙂 I do a great deal of photo traveling myself, especially through friends who travel overseas, and I thank you for your generous words. I am grateful to live near enough to such places which, while not the Grand Canyon, still offer beauty and fill my soul. Oh, gosh, I am so glad I don’t have to shift! I would be stuck here on the Cutoff for sure! I spent a good decade or more shifting and did not enjoy it with two feet. 🙂 I haven’t thought of shifting in years. Now you’ve given me a smile this afternoon.
How exciting to catch a glimpse of the red fox. What a great sight that must have been to your morning. They are such beautiful animals, Marilyn. I’m so happy you remembered and came back to tell me.
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Beautiful; i’m glad there is a good drive-through road at the Arboretum. And delighted it was quiet enough for you to stop often to admire (and take pictures of) this wonderful Fall color. We try to go on all our rambles mid-week; its such a blessing to be able to leave the busy weekends to those who have only those two days to play.
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I am, too. The roads are well maintained there, with ample viewpoinst and easy access. At this time of year, the cars can easily be 15 – 20 cars long and there is always some driver who doesn’t like going slow (which I can never quiet figure out). It is a blessing for us as well to be able to do these drives mid-week. I remember those precious weekends, especially with children, and a full work week looming. We’ve had a really long, colorful Fall, Sallie.
Thank you.
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Your wanderlust is still being satisfied, and I love the way you cultivate resilience, Penny! And those colors are just beautiful. That is definitely something Southern California does NOT experience. Fall is so much more subtle here…if you can call still occasional 90 degree daytime temperatures subtle. LOL! The trees are too frightened to put on a colorful display. 🙂 Lovely, lovely! And I hope your injuries are mending strong and you’ll be out wandering Morton Arboretum soon enough! I may be going back to Oakland my daughter-in-law with a project this week. If I do, I’ll get some good wandering in while I’m there. 🙂
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Thank you, Debra. The colors have been amazing this year, though late in coming. We haven’t had a frost yet, which has helped, and we’ve actually had 70 degree temps! I wish I could send a midwest Autumn to you for a week or so, just for the colors.
I’ll be in the boot for another 3 weeks, but, I am getting around and can thankfully, oh-so-gratefully, drive! Hoping we don’t have ice or snow until then, selfish gal that I am.
Oh, goodie! I can’t wait to see where your wandering leads you. It occurs to me that you and I could get in a whole lot of adventures together. 🙂
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Beautiful! I adore that drive, thank you for sharing yours! I feel very nostalgic for the Arboretum and that drive especially.
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We haven’t had a good freeze yet and the trees have been resplendent, Janet. While I couldn’t walk, I appreciated that I could at least take the drive. I even enjoyed the mists. A friend mentioned that yesterday there were so many cars lined up to get inside the Arb, she ended up going somewhere else.
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Fall is such a lovely time. Thank you for taking that drive! I’ll be glad when you’re able to take your walks again. 🙂
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Thank you, L. Marie. This is my most favorite season (at last until the next one 🙂 ) and I’m glad I can at least drive. Hope all is well with you.
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I am visiting my girlfriend in Connecticut and we walked on a road like that yesterday. What a beautiful drive Penny and thanks for sharing it.
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It is the most magical time of year to visit Connecticut, Gerlinde. Enjoy. Enjoy. Enjoy. It was a beautiful drive and I am so glad I took it that day. Thank you.
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Well, a rambler like you can’t be stopped Penny. If you can’t ramble on foot, then you will ramble on wheels. I’m glad you got to see the autumn gold, and thank you for sharing it.
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Thank you, Juliet. I’m glad I was able to ramble as well. I know you understand how these set-backs in life can be. We are having a magnificent autumn here, with leaves still vibrant and hanging on and we still haven’t had a hard frost. At least I can drive through the beauty. 🙂
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