Adventures in Midwestern Gardening: October 2011

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Fall leaves

I find autumn to be one of the most beautiful times of the year. The colors, the temperatures, the promise of an upcoming winter.... Gotcha didn't I? :) Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of trees with great fall color, but I did get a couple shots. I keep telling myself that I am going to go out and hunt some great trees for photos, but just haven't gotten there, so I improvised in my own yard.

Eastern Redbud

Maple

Friday, October 28, 2011

Freeze warning

Central Illinois has it's first freeze warning of the year tonight. Not the Major League baseball kind, either. :) According to the National Weather Service, the first freeze for our area generally occurs on October 17th, so we are slightly behind average. All of my tender plants came into the potting shed with the first frost warning, so I am safe that way. I am ready to not have to mow grass anymore, for weeds to finally die, and yes, for snow to start flying. I have to say that this has been one of the most beautiful and temperate autumns that I can remember. Sometimes I wonder if that has to do with me getting older and more appreciative of nature.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Assorted flora and fauna - Yellowstone 2011

I saw a lot of this fungi type growth. Unlike anything that I see here at home.

Multi colors of fungi

More amazement at the things that can grow in the adverse conditions of the geyser basins of Yellowstone.

This moss like material was actually dry. I would have thought it would be moist like most mosses. It would fall off and you would find clumps of it lying on the ground.