Enjoying Autumn, and Preparing for Winter...

We've had a short run of beautiful fall days, sunny and warm, almost too warm, the temperature holding in the lower 20's C degree range, with a humidity value making it feel like the upper 20's.

The Sugar Maples are yellow-orange

The fall foliage is spectacular this year, glorious reds and oranges and yellows. We went for a day long road trip, a little south of here on Friday past, and around every bend was a blast of beautiful colour combinations, that only Mother Nature can produce.

Colour coming on the far hills

Its been a little difficult to knuckle down and get the garden beds prepared for winter, but gradually, that is being accomplished. Some leaves are falling, and with our new mower/mulcher/bagger lawn mower, it has been an absolute breeze collecting leaves. I already have 9+ stuffed industrial sized garbage bags stored in my shed. I will have lots for mulching next summer, as well as blanketing the garlic bed and the parsnip patch this fall.

Very small patch of parsnips this year

We have not had the expected influx of apple-eating bears, and have determined that although there is no beech nut crop this year, there are a lot of acorns dropping from the oaks. Bears prefer nuts for their high protein and fattening ability, and perhaps we'll dodge the apple eaters this year. 

I have harvested and processed all the apples we need at this point, so the critters can have the rest. The crab apple tree close to the house has almost finished dropping all its fruit. It has produced a bumper crop every second year since we moved here, and this year was a bumper crop year.

The Snow Queen in May

Her crab apples in September

I have some ever-bearing strawberries that are taking their name very literally. Look what was peeking out from under the leaves this morning...and it has at least two mates!