A Pre-Thanksgiving Walk

We are going to eat  too much right? So let's take a long walk to prepare.

In late November I look down as much as I look up to find beauty.

I like the structural nature of the Teasel this time of year.

We still have some color in the forest - this Vine Maple for example.

Looking down: How many different colors and textures are there in this composition of moss, mushroom, leaves and lichen?

A Cottonwood leaf - there's one large tree that is still full of color.

With the recent rains, both of our seasonal creeks are running apace.

Water droplets on an Oak leaf.

Small ferns amongst the moss.

The colors of the Turkey Tail mushrooms were bright on a gray day.  No, we won't be eating any for Thanksgiving dinner no matter how appropriately named they are!  I have no idea what the day-glow yellow growth is.

I love the color of this blue / gray lichen.

There are still a few Apple Oak galls on the Oak trees.

These last couple of storms dropped the remaining acorns...

...and most of the Oak leaves and smaller galls as well.

One of our cherries though still has 'shout out' color.

It was a nice surprise to find this cluster of rose hips.

Look carefully and you'll see that Mr. Gray Squirrel is looking back at you.

He was down by our largest seasonal creek.  We've not had any Gray Squirrels up by the house for 2 or 3 months now.  I don't know if it is because of the cats and hawks, or if this time of year they move down the hill to work the Oak trees during acorn season.    

I'll end the walk with the last apple on our wilding apple tree.

It looks like the top is splitting - the next wind storm and it will tumble to the ground to the delight of the deer.