The air cools at this time of year but the water in our lakes and ponds can still be relatively warm. When the cool air moves over the warm water it often creates mists or fog, and it seems every time I’ve wanted to get a photo of Mount Monadnock this fall the summit was obscured by clouds or the entire huge mass was obscured by mist. Finally though, on this day both the sky and the ground was empty of cloudiness and I was able to get a clear shot of the mountain, complete with a forest full of fall color.
When this was taken there was still lots of color on this hillside but on the day of this writing most of the trees have lost their leaves. That tells me that most of them are maples. Oak and beech are still going strong.
This is one of my favorite spots in the fall because it reminds me of what I experienced as a schoolboy. Almost all of the senses are in use in a place like this; seeing the colors of the trees, smelling the sweetly burnt, earthy scent of the fallen leaves, and hearing them crackle and rustle as you walk through them. And then there’s always the special one or two that you have to touch because they stand out from all the rest.
There is a grove of birches I always admire as I drive past it. On this day I stopped and went into it. Now I admire it even more.
There is still good color at Half Moon Pond in Hancock. This is a place that just keeps on giving at this time of year; the way its beauty lasts but changes almost daily.
I’m sorry that we aren’t seeing blue skies in these photos but I have to take what nature gives, and right now that seems to be milky skies. This was also taken early in the day before the sun was fully up and that almost always means milky or overexposed skies.
This is a view of a swamp that I pass sometimes. People often mention “swamp maples” but swamp maple is just another name for red maples, which I think most of these trees are. They could also be silver maples, which don’t mind wet feet. Silver maples prefer alkaline soil though and we have little of that in this area. Our soil is usually acidic.
I think the red in the foreground shines from blueberry bushes but they could also be dogwoods. They add even more beauty to an already beautiful scene.
Maple leaved viburnums have been very beautiful this year. I liked the deep purple leaves on this one. They can be yellow, orange, pink, purple, or combinations of colors but I think all of them end up a pale, almost white pastel pink before they fall.
My blogging friend Ron Corbyn has been itching to see some red poison ivy leaves (Toxicodendron radicans) like he saw in Texas years ago, so I hunted around and found a few left on an almost leafless vine. Very pretty color but you don’t want to touch it. Even touching the bare stems can give you a bothersome and, for people who are extremely allergic, what could be dangerous rash.
A white ash seedling (Fraxinus americana) looked very beautiful in purple, I thought. They usually start out bright yellow, but can be multicolored with yellow, orange, red and deep purple all on the same tree.
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen the Ashuelot River as still as it was on this day.
The stones showing in Beaver Brook show how dry it is right now, and the light through the witch hazels (Hamamelis virginiana) shows how beautiful.
When I want reflections I can usually count on the pond in a local park to provide them. On this side of the pond there was a bit of a breeze.
But this side of the pond was perfectly still.
The reflections were what I expected they would be here, at least on one side of the pond.
This is another photo of the road I travel to work on. It’s a beautiful ride.
There is a swampy area along the road in the previous photo that always looked like a pleasant spot when I passed it. I stopped beside it on this day and found that it was indeed a pleasant, quiet and colorful place.
You can see bare trees in this view of Surry Mountain in Surry. I’m guessing that more than half of them are bare by now.
Sunlight through maples can be so beautiful at this time of year.
This view looking into the forest caught my eye enough to make me want to walk into it.
Over the years I’ve tried, with little real success, to show you what being in these woods is actually like. Here is this year’s attempt. It isn’t as easy as it might sound.
An autumn forest is such a place that once entered you never look for the exit. ~Mehmet Murat ildan
Thanks for coming by.
Beautiful images, Allen…I especially enjoyed the ones of the river, brook, and the pond reflections…and the road you take to work. If I had that road as an option, I don’t know that I’d ever actually get to work…wow….. Very nice.
Thank you Scott. That road is beautiful at all times of year and it has made me late for work!
Glorious, especially the scarlet and orange leaves!
It seems to just go on and on this year!
Thank you for another stunningly beautiful post. I especially enjoyed the reflection photos and bright red poison ivy.
You’re welcome Jennifer. I hope you can see the same things where you are.
Thank you for sharing these beautiful shots. I’ve lived multiple whole life in Florida and have never seen fall color like this! One of these days….
You’re welcome. I lived in Florida for a while, so I know what you mean. I hope one day you’ll be able to come north and see these colors for yourself.
What an excellent and colourful post this was. I enjoyed every photograph. You are fortunate to have such a delightful road along which to travel to work.
Thank you, I agree. I feel very lucky most days.
Such beautiful autumn pictures, Allen. I chose photo #3 as my favourite, but then more beauty came rolling towards me, so now I don’t know any more.
Thank you Cynthia. It’s hard to take a bad photo at this time of year.
I hope you’re seeing some good color there!
Oh, no. I take many bad photos all year.
I’ve seen them. They aren’t bad!
It is difficult to photograph a forest! I think it has a lot to do with the camera only looking straight ahead. When we are in a forest we are aware of being surrounded completely by trees and bushes and that makes for a very special feeling. We are also aware (as you commented in this post) of the scents and the sounds of a forest and that can’t be shared, even by video and sound recording.
I love all the fall colour shots you have included here as well as the gorgeous reflections of the trees in the lake.
Thank you Clare. I suppose “seeing” and “being” really matter when trying to describe a forest by any eans, but especially photography!
Some very nice color even within a blue sky!
Thank you. It has turned out to be a great year for color!
Thank you for your stunning photos. I always look forward to your journeys. I find fall a sad time but your photos and the comments accompanying them make me be more appreciative.
Thank you Paula. I love to see the colorful foliage but fall isn’t my favorite season either; most ly because of what comes after.
I’m glad I could help you see the good side of it!
I hear you! Photographing the forest is no easy task. I think it’s because for the camera, there is no real focal point. Somehow, the eye always seems to find one. In central Maine, the maple trees are loosing their leaves at a brisk clip. But while I will miss their brilliant colors, I love the russets of the oaks.
I think you’re probably correct Laurie. There’s only so much a camera can do!
We’ve had freezing weather but the oaks and beeches are doing well, and there are still pockets of maple here and there with leaves on them, but they’re falling fast. I think it will take all of November to clean them all up where I work.
I enjoyed this virtual walk through your area, Allen. The color looks good. I can smell those leaves and hear them underfoot. I remember walking through woods like that when I lived back east. The colors are like walking through a forest of candles after sundown. They seem to provide their own internal light as daylight fades.
So gorgeous, Allen, that it can’t be nature doing all that. Are you sure somebody’s not going around there painting all those trees while you’re asleep?
Thanks for the shot of the red poison ivy leaves. I knew they had to be there.
It reminds me of a beautiful reddish brown walking stick I made out of poison oak when we lived in Calif. years ago. I gave it to my youngest boy when we went to Chile, which by the way is suffering from some terrible, violent and destructive Antifa-like protests right now.
On Wed, Oct 23, 2019, 5:10 AM New Hampshire Garden Solutions New Hampshire Garden Solutions posted: ” The air cools at this time of > year but the water in our lakes and ponds can still be relatively warm. > When the cool air moves over the warm water it often creates mists or fog, > and it seems every time I’ve wanted to get a photo of Mount Monadnock this > f” >
Thank Ron. No, what you see is what we get every fall here in New England. It’s probably the best time of year for a visit from afar.
Yes, though most poison ivy leaves are yellow I did finally find a plant or two with red leaves. They seem to be a finicky plant when it comes to fall color.
I hope that poison oak walking stick had lost all its rash causing abilities before you passed it on!
I’ve heard about the unrest there in Chile and I hope it isn’t affecting you directly. I also hope they can find a solution to what is causing it.
Take care and be safe!
Thanks, Allen.
Thanks, Allen. The poison oak was dead when I cut it.
Good thing!
I have really been enjoying the color changes this year. Your photos capture it beautifully.
Thank you Susan. It started out a little slowly but wow, what a year for color!
Lots of breathtaking color, Allen! Love all the beautiful shots. Still very little appreciable color here. Maples and not much more. Slow this year!
Thanks Ginny! I wonder why your color is so slow in coming. Ours is past peak now and just about over.
Wonderful autumn colours and a perfect quote, thank you so much for brightening up my morning!
You’re welcome Susan, I’m glad that I could!