 |
| Looking at the Minnesota bluffs above the Mississippi Reno Spillway |
As we approached the fall equinox, the trees and flowers seemed to be breathing a sigh of relief. The vibrant greens of blossom and leaf full summer have slowly grayed and browned out and only a few trees in this drier weather have begun to turn colors.
This has been a hotter month than usual and drier as well. Those with gardens can see the stress as the growing season slows down. We hit the high 80s mid-month which is unusual. Luckily during our last week, we had welcome 60s which made hiking extra nice.
While I'll miss the flowers of spring and summer, I look forward to these cooler temperatures, coming fall color and subsequent leaf fall. Once the leaves are down and brush has died back, viewscapes and overlooks open up more widely to the river, rocks and landforms of the Driftless area. I also relish the cooler weather for longer, higher hikes!.
 |
| Levis Trow Mounds rock formations |
There will be fewer observations listed this month. I spent a week off the grid paddling in Quetico Provincial Park's wilderness with friends and driving out to the Southwest for some early October hiking. The few weeks I've been home are full of unpacking, re-packing, appointments and meetings. It left me lots less time to hit the trails!
In the meantime, do check out this recent post on great fall color hikes in the Driftless area and enjoy the autumn beauty that is still coming our way!
Plant Life
- Little bluestem
New England aster
Wagon Wheel Trail - Butterfly weed
- Common evening primrose
- Showy goldenrod
- Stiff goldenrod
- Zigzag goldenrod
- Mullein
- American water lily
- Pickerel weed
- Purple prairie clover
- White praise clover
- Spotted bee balm
- Hoary verbena
- Jewelweed
- White snakeroot
- Sweet coneflower
- Joe Pye Weed, past bloom
- Jack in the pulpit seeds
- Oak fern
- Rockcap fern
- Interrupted fern
- Lady fern
- Maidenhair fern
Northern maidenhair fern
Hixon Forest - Bracket fern
- Jelly fungi
- Honey mushroom
- Artist’s conk fungi
- Pincushion moss
- Shining clubmoss
- Wintergreen
- American burnweed
- Partridge pea
- Spiderwort
- Highbush cranberry
- New England aster
- Calico aster
- Hairy aster
- Sneezeweed
Wildlife (seen, hear, detected)
- American pelican
- Great blue heron
- Yellow-throated vireo
- Eagle
- Blue jay
- Monarch butterfly
- Ruby-throated hummingbird
- Eastern wood pewee
- Sandhill cranes
- American goldfinch
- Brown thrush.q.
- Mourning clock butterfly
- Pearl crescent butterfly
- Monarch butterfly
- Barred owl
What are YOU noticing on your hikes?
 |
| Sunset on a small island in Pickerel Lake Quetico Provincial Park Image - Michele Besant |
No comments:
Post a Comment