Fall Foliage

I thought I'd share some images of fall foliage in my area, photos I took of some of the season's changing leaves in my neighbourhood and at my parents' cottage. These might be especially nice for people who live in regions of the United States where the leaves don't turn quite as flagrantly.


The colours here in Eastern Ontario are especially vibrant this year. The heavy rain we had this past summer has blessed us with a technicolour show in the treetops. The photographs, of course, never do them justice. You have to experience them first-hand, with all your senses, to really get the full effect. You have to smell that damp autumn smell, feel the crispness of the air around you and hear the leaves rustling in the wind. Have a look at some of the photos all the same and let me know what you think.

You may think these beautiful trees were found along a country lane somewhere, but they were smack-dab in the middle of a city park. I'm not sure what tree produces these gorgeous fall berries, above, but the branches were loaded with them. A sugar maple, below.

Not all bright folliage is found in the country. These climbing vines were a beautiful crimson and were visible from one of the busiest streets in Ottawa.

At my parents' cottage there are miles and miles of roads winding through the forests. I love taking long walks. There isn't a single sound except the wind in the leaves. It's completely restorative. Maples, especially, seem to turn the brightest colours. I found this baby leaf, below, resting on a still-thriving fern near a stream.
Eventually, even the ferns and groundcover turn a shade of golden yellow.

When the light hits the trees, it's like a fireworks display in the middle of the daytime. The scene above is of the forest at the cottage, which had been turned completely golden. It literally shimmered in the sunlight.

My mother takes her dog, Molly, for a walk down one of the roadways at the cottage. Again, the autumn canopy above was just so alluring.
I found this enormous maple leaf in Quebec City. It was large enough to cover my face! I photographed it on a black table in a cabin we rented there last year. The black backdrop really brought out its features.

Views from balconies are often the best way to see the treetops - from above! The view from my current balcony (above) yields flecks of gold and orange that carry straight into the city in the distance. Some of the leaves have yet to turn. This was taken just today. The view from my apartment last year, below, which was on the 19th floor, was incredibly spectacular.