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