Earlier this week, I lifted my eyes from the keyboard and glanced out the window next to my computer. It was already late afternoon on what had started out as a gloomy overcast day. To my delight, outside my window the sun was shining! I immediately went into action. Leaping out of my chair and grabbing my camera, I invited Bob to leave his desk and head to Holden Arboretum with me for an impromptu trail walk.
Two weeks earlier, I had visited the Arboretum, hoping to find the sugar maple tree crowned in glorious autumn color…not an unreasonable expectation in the middle of October. Normally we would have nearly reached peak color here on the south shore of Lake Erie by that time, but that afternoon, to my disappointment, the tree still looked much like it had in mid-summer: beautiful, but almost entirely green.
Today, with the late afternoon sun shining and puffy white clouds in a beautiful blue sky, I almost held my breath as I hurried down the trail to where I could catch sight of the tree. My expectations weren’t high because the end of October is well past the time for peak color in northeast Ohio, and in a normal year, the maple would have lost most of its color and many of its leaves by the first of November (the day I am writing this post).
Then I rounded the curve in the trail and saw the maple.
My heart burst with joy.
I hadn’t missed its peak color after all!
Three more for today from my Color Me Autumn trail walks (Click to enlarge pictures)
Thanks for joining me on the trail today.
I’ll be back soon to share more Autumn joy.
Trail Walker
SEEN ALONG THE TRAIL 
Spectacular orange this year on that magnificent maple!
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Yes, it has been spectacular; although for a while, I thought we weren’t going to have much autumn color. Thankfully I was wrong.
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As we would say in Maine, wowsah! That tree is glorious, Great timing on your part.
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I return to this tree every year. Some years it is brilliant like this, and other years it is more subdued. I am not sure why, but perhaps it is the ambient temperatures and the amount of sunlight. This year wowsah describes it really well. Glad you enjoyed it!
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These are just gorgeous Carolyn – you have captured these trees at the peak of perfection.
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Thank you, Linda. Every year, I make multiple visits to that spot to capture the color. Some years it is brilliant and others it is more subdued. This year I had almost given up hope because the leaves were 2-3 weeks late in changing their colors.
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It was well worth the wait Carolyn – the colors are exquisite. The big maple tree next door was beautiful earlier in the week, but over the past three days with all the rain and gusty winds, now most of those colorful leaves are on the lawn.
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It is a lovely picture–particularly on a wet, gloomy day. The tree people are going to come tomorrow–weather permitting Stay warm! Marti
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It is a beautiful tree. Hard to find words to describe it. The tree people are working in your yard as I type this. What a wet day for that job!
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Absolutely stunning!!
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Thanks! I was truly rejoicing!
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