Scenery

Here are some scenes which caught my eye on my walk to the grocery store today. As you can see, Autumn is moving in, however slowly.

Bug-chewed Virginia Creeper along the Dykeman Walking Trail

Shelf Fungus along the Dykeman Walking Trail

A view of the upland meadow

Upland meadow view with Blue Mountain in the background

© 2014 by A. Roy Hilbinger 

Autumnal Equinox 2014

The sun has arrived at the equator on his journey south for the winter, marking the change to cooler weather and even shorter daylight hours. Yes, I know the equinox is tomorrow, but I'll be at work. So my annual equinox post was shot and goes up today. I've brought you pictures of Fall flowers and turning leaves from the Dykeman Spring Nature Park. I've also brought you Jethro Tull singing Songs from the Woods, appropriate music for the season. So kick back, break out the new-brewed ale, and celebrate Autumn's arrival!

Staghorn Sumac is one of the first trees/shrubs to change color

Southern Gaura is a late summer/early autumn bloomer in these parts

New York Asters, another Fall bloomer

Yellow Birch leaves along the creek

Calico Asters in the upland meadow

The woods along the upland meadow are starting to turn ever so slightly

© 2014 by A. Roy Hilbinger 

It's Almost Autumn

It's starting to feel like Fall, even though the Autumnal Equinox is still a week away. The temperature got down to 46ºF (7.8ºC) last night, and it was in the 50s (10º - 15ºC) the whole time I was on my hike this morning. And a beautiful hike it was, walking all the trails in the Dykeman Spring Nature Park and taking note of all the signs of approaching Autumn. The Fall flowers - like the Boneset, Goldenrod, and Calico Asters pictured below - are starting to bloom, birds I'm used to seeing/hearing seem to have gotten scarce or disappeared altogether, the hawks are migrating (there were two Redtails circling above the upland meadow and there was a pair of Cooper's Hawks being harassed by Crows down by the Little League fields), and there's just a general feel of Fall in the air. So of course I'm in heaven! Here are the best shots taken during that walk. Enjoy!

Boneset growing along the Dykeman Walking Trail

A Bumblebee visiting some Goldenrod along the Dykeman Walking Trail

The hillside stairs on the Upland Trail

The view of the upland meadow from the western end

The Calico Asters are starting to bloom along the Meadow Trail

On the Meadow Trail, looking north across the meadow to Blue Mountain

Bridges across the creek as it flows between the Little League fields

© 2014 by A. Roy Hilbinger 

Serenity

Today was overcast but still seasonably cool, and I decided to visit some of the more serene spots in town, those places that are oases of calm and quiet set in the midst of traffic and residential areas. The little farm on Hockersmith Avenue came to mind, as did the wetland areas of the Dykeman Spring Nature Park. And I found a surprise waiting by the north duck pond in the park - a visiting Double-crested Cormorant. I'm used to seeing them around salt water rather than fresh, and they were abundant around Newport, so I choose to see this as an old friend come to see how I'm doing.

© 2014 by A. Roy Hilbinger 

These Caught My Eye

Off today and tomorrow, which makes today errands day. As usual I walked to the grocery store via the Dykeman Spring Nature Park. These were the sights that caught my eye and translated to photo well. Enjoy!

A Martin house in the middle of the marsh in the Dykeman Spring wetlands

Spotted Knapweed growing along a chain link fence

A scene on the forest floor along the Upland Trail

© 2014 by A. Roy Hilbinger 

Along the Rail Trail

I took a leisurely stroll along the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail today. At the height of Summer the rail trail is kind of boring, at least at the Shippensburg end; there are so many trees and so much foliage that scenery is blocked. But there are some clear spaces, and I got some shots there, plus two scenes amongst the greenery along the trail as well. Enjoy!

A farm along the Rail Trail

A farm road off the Rail Trail, with a very hazy Blue Mountain in the background

A sign of approaching Autumn - a fallen Sumac leaf amidst the greenery

Unknown flower growing along the Rail Trail

© 2014 by A. Roy Hilbinger