Now they’re gone

Note: This post is linked at Skywatch Friday, a cool site where you can see this week’s skies from all over the world.

This morning I biked out to my favorite autumn tree, next to Wonderland Lake. Just as I expected, all the leaves are gone. What a change from two and three weeks ago!

IMG_3280What I didn’t expect was how small this tree feels sans leaves. Dressed in yellow and orange finery two and three weeks ago, it was an imposing presence. Now it looks about half the size. I didn’t even recognize it at first and had to double back.

What happened between then and now was snow—two short bouts of it. Here is the open space behind our house during one of those days. I had bent down to photograph the grasses when Bodhi walked into the frame—just this far and no farther. I think he did a great job of composition:

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The snow wiped many of the trees clean of their leaves all at once, overnight. But a few oases of mahogany and magenta remain. These are from Bodhi’s and my walk this afternoon:

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8 Responses to Now they’re gone

  1. Louise says:October 23, 2009 at 6:34 pm

    I went away last weekend, leaving my one beautiful tree. When I returned, it was leafless, too. No snow or even frost! Such a different view.

    Your views are gorgeous with or without leaves!

  2. J Bar says:October 23, 2009 at 7:02 pm

    Great shots.

  3. Katney says:October 23, 2009 at 8:35 pm

    We got to see the fall in Alaska and now still have some bright golden leaves in our yard–though I glimpsed through a shaded window, the wind blowing them today and thought it was snow. I should check again, the tree may be bare.

  4. Eileen says:October 24, 2009 at 5:23 am

    Beautiful photos! I think some trees can look just as beautiful without leaves. Thanks for sharing your skywatch.

  5. Priscilla Stuckey, PhD says:October 25, 2009 at 6:56 pm

    I actually love seeing the architecture of the trees when they’re minus their leaves. And since moving to Colorado, I’ve found winter provides all this wonderful birding because there are no leaves to hide the birds. Thanks for your comments!

  6. serline says:October 26, 2009 at 12:01 am

    Simply beautifully captured shot….

  7. Mimi Kusch says:October 26, 2009 at 4:38 pm

    May Sarton has written some of the most gorgeous poems about the architecture of trees…..

  8. Crafty Green poet says:October 30, 2009 at 7:40 am

    its very interestign to see the three photos in series, the changes are so dramatic…