Colour Wheel

As our earth and the  year spins through it's seasons we are treated to nature's palette of colours.

None of these are more glorious than at this time of year - Autumn. 

 

It seems to me we may not have as many reds this year but instead have been gifted the most beautiful oranges and golds, set like jewels in the sun on blue skies.



 

I've always enjoyed the crunch of leaves underfoot, and breathed deep on those Autumn days that were still warm and glowing.  It's only recently though that I have come to really appreciate Autumn for the season that it is.  The season of slowing down, of preparing for the Winter ahead and the season of glorious nature giving us one last show before she sleeps until Spring.



 

Autumn is the most wonderful time to look around and really appreciate all that we have.  Not just in our own lives but in the wider world, in the procession of time and the changing carnival before our eyes.



 

On this walk I found a young oak.  The sun was lighting up the leaves in blazing greens, yellows, oranges and reds - all at once.



How can one small tree be so many things all at one time - show so many different facets of itself in one instance.



After all is not 'just' a tree?



 

A walk in nature at any time not only stretches our muscles and cleans our lungs but also refreshes our spirit and our mind.



 

This walk was a reminder to me - to let all of my colours shine, especially the elusive red!

 

Fungusumungus

It's Thanksgiving weekend here in Ontario and the weather is unseasonably mild.  We decided to make the most of the sunny afternoon and take a walk along one of our favourite trails in our area - the Tip to Tip trail in Burritts Rapids.



 

It's a beautiful path that climbs gently up a spit of land between the Rideau River and Rideau canal.

What a perfect day!  The geese were honking and the trees are glorious - not quite so red this year I fancy, but bedecked in glorious shades of gold and orange.



 

This one is one of my favourites - leaves long gone but it's oozing with personality.

I wish I were a gatherer, I wish I knew what to pick that is edible but I don't.  I suggested we look for fungi and see what we could find.  Not to eat of course, no, no!  Just to take pictures!  I was actually surprised at just how many different kinds we found.

There were tiny ones clinging to branches -



 

And drifts of others looking like a flock of moths.

[caption id="attachment_798" align="alignnone" width="480"] Turkey Tail fungus - thanks Jane :D[/caption]

 

Dead and dying trees are great places to look, this tree had a huge hole on one side - I can't help thinking someone must find that rather cozy.



On the other side look what we found!



 

They look like fairy mushrooms growing in pairs up the trunk!



 

 



 

Another tree was sprouting these -



 



 

If anyone knows their fungi I'd love it if you emailed me to let me know what these all are :)



 

I read something about mycelium once - the root system of fungi and mushrooms - I have the feeling if we had x-ray vision and could see through the forest we would be amazed at the network that runs everywhere bringing these otherworldly growths to life.



 

It will probably be Spring before we get to look again as over the next few weeks we'll see temperatures fall away and that will mean that the snow is not far behind.

The colours on this walk were so beautiful and I'll share them in my next post ;)

 

Mabon

Dance with the WindBirds

Circle and Spin



Feel the breeze through your feathers

A chill on your skin

Come stand at the Altar

Of Nature's great worth



Touch the sky with your fingers

Smell the scent of the Earth



Hear the land sighing as

The Wheel takes a spin



Sit quiet, Reflect,



on the bounty brought in



As the leaves turn to yellow

To Copper

To Gold



Rejoice in the Season

Nature's story is told.