Seasons

November is my favorite time of the year 🦃

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November is my favorite time of the year 🦃

Wetlands Across the Canal

If you ask most people, outside of the most dedicated deer hunters, probably November wouldn’t rank on their short list of the best months of the year. But it really is my favorite.

November is that time of year typically before snow is on the ground and things are icy and slippery. It’s a time when the leaves are off the trees and the woods lays bare for all to see. Wildlife is busy gathering food in preparation for the long winter ahead – or simply heading south as is the case with the birds and geese.

The trees gone bare reveal many a vista hidden by the leaves of summer. You can see contours of the woods once hidden, the old farm garbage dump in the gully. The deer are in their rut, carelessly wandering around the woods mostly looking for does to impregnate. The air has such a nice cool but refreshing feel. It’s so nice to be able to put that vest back on again.

With colder weather upon us, folks fire up their woodstoves and outdoor wood boilers, giving small towns across the area that very homey back woods smell of wood smoke. Farmers who have harvested their crops are busy applying manure, hoping to fertilize the ground before its frozen. It can be tangy and pungent but it’s part of the season.

I like the cool long nights of November in the woods. I like wearing my vest, sitting down by the campfire. I like how quiet the woods is, the starry nights that start early and how the moonlight shines through the trees. Or the deep blue skies and the browns and grays of the autumn months.

Experts say soggy summer to blame for washed out colors of fall foliage

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Experts say soggy summer to blame for washed out colors of fall foliage

Even though many spots in our region are now at or approaching peak fall foliage, this year’s display isn’t as vibrant as many of us are used to.

The bright yellows, rich oranges and vibrant reds have largely been replaced by muddy yellows, pale reds and some leaves are just turning brown and falling off.

While there are many factors that influence fall foliage, UVM Forestry Professor Alexandra Kosiba says this year’s soggy summer likely played a big role. The wet, cloudy days reduce a tree’s capacity for photosynthesis in the summer which impacts the sugar reserves in the leaves going into the fall. She says the wet summer also created prime conditions for a fungus called anthracnose.

“So if you look at the leaves, they have brown spots on them. They might be kind of crinkled, dropping early, and that’s just because the leaves were wet for a lot of the season, and that’s a great breeding ground for leaf fungi, and if you walk in the woods, you’ll see a lot of mushrooms. It’s the same idea,” Kosiba said.

Autumn leaf discoloration – MSU Extension

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Autumn leaf discoloration – MSU Extension

As the summer gradually moves into the fall season, the leaves of many tree species will prematurely turn brown. A variety of leaf fungi are especially common when associated with cooler and moister conditions. Different fungi are associated with different tree species. Few of these leaf fungi present a health threat to individual trees or forests.

Trees began physiologically preparing for the winter season in early August. They’ve been vigorously photosynthesizing for months. Leaf and flower buds are set for 2018. Flowers and fruits are mostly done for the year. Carbohydrate reserves have been translocated to root systems and other storage areas. The shorter daylight hours will drive the color change. The early leaf-changers have already begun their color season.

It’s common to see browning leaves that present little or no health threat to trees. A number of Anthracnose species will cause the leaves of oaks, maples and other tree species to turn brown. Areas of leaves will turn brown, usually in the lower part of the crown where the air is more humid. This can be particularly common with golf courses and manicured landscapes that utilize watering systems.

Annuttos Farm Stand

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Apple Cider :: Annuttos Farm Stand

This looks like a good place to stop on Saturday heading down to Pennsylvania and it's not far out of the way -- nice stopping place outside of Oneonta. Figure an hour and half from home. Not just for the treat of cider and cider doughnuts to bring to camp but also lots of good fresh veggies.

The best autumn days

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The best autumn days are often cool and crisp with lots of blue skies. It may be cool, especially when the sun first rises but soon there after you can start to feel the warmth of the sun and the beauty of day as it gets underway.

Pines