A view from the patio. Our white oaks provide a dash of golden orange to set off the green forests and blue mountains.
Several years ago Peggy and I were in the middle of a year off when we were treated to most of what America has to offer in fall’s brilliant display of leaves changing color. We began our adventure in late August. Our trip had taken us into Alaska and the weather was changing. The geese were getting restless, preparing for their journey south. We decided to migrate as well. Since our next scheduled stop was in Florida for Thanksgiving, we had three months to wander.
Our route took us down through the Yukon Territory and into British Columbia’s impressive national parks of Jasper and Banff in the northern Rockies. We then made our way east through Alberta and Saskatchewan, dropped down into North Dakota, and then traveled through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. We arrived in the New England states of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine at the height of leaf peeping season. We then journeyed south through the Mid-Atlantic States into the Blue Ridge Mountains. The trees were spectacular the whole way. We were following fall, so to speak.
Fall in the Rockies. I took this photo on the western side of the mountains in Colorado.
Fall along the Blue Ridge Highway.
Fall view looking out on Blue Ridge Mountains.
Our rather mild weather in Southern Oregon doesn’t produce the magnificent colors of New England, but we get a decent showing. I kept promising myself I would get out and take photos but writing and procrastination interfered. When I finally managed to be out and about with my camera, there were more leaves on the ground than in the trees. I was left with the last colors of fall, but they were still impressive.
Trails snaking through our five acres are named after our grandsons. Connor’s Cutoff, hidden under leaves, does a good job of capturing fall colors.
This photo follows our road down the hill and past the white oaks.
An Oregon Maple adds a touch of yellow to our yard.
A close up of the Oregon Maple. I like the contrast provided by the dark limbs.
These red berries decorated a neighbor’s yard. As I recall from my youth in California, we called them California Holly.
Our drive into the town of Jacksonville, Oregon provided more fall views.
Another view along Upper Applegate Road on our way into Jacksonville.
Our property fronts on the beautiful Applegate River. I took this photo on one of the bridges across the river on Upper Applegate Road.
NEXT BLOG: We will visit one of America’s premier parks (where I happen to be as I type this), Pt. Reyes National Seashore, north of San Francisco, California.
Wandering through Time and Place 