Pine

Frost coated the pine needles and cones early in the morning.

But later in the day,

the frost was gone.

Skywatch Friday

Usually the fog does not last this far into our walks,

so I was able to photograph new trees with fog enveloping them.

Skywatch Friday

The cattails, lit by the morning sun, are starting

to release their seeds to the winds.

Sun Shining Through Leaves

All the leaves have fallen off the trees now,

so the only colours are in the various browns.

But when the morning sun shines through, they turn to golds.

November Geese

The dogs were not pleased that I took a short detour on the way to the dog park,

to photograph the geese and the ice on this pond.

Then, while we were walking, I heard a flock of geese taking off, climbing steeply to avoid the hill we were walking along.

They passed almost directly over us,

and flew off to the fields for another day of preparation for the long flight south.

Still Some Green Leaves Out There

I thought this might be a violet leaf, but they are not hairy. I don't know what sort of caterpillar this is, either.

I know this is a wild strawberry leaf, though.

Watery Wednesday

More photos of the foggy morning.

I love fog!

And the sun coming through the fog was spectacular!

I don't remember seeing the sun like this before!

Frost on Cow Parsnip

There was a morning, with fog, and heavy frost.

I got a little carried away with my photography.

The only thing that stopped me was the cold!

I was surprised that some of the spiderwebs made it this far into the autumn!

Lambs Ears and Mullein

A couple of people thought the mullein photos were lambs ears, so I have photographed the frost on the lambs ears. I had to scrape some of the frost off to be sure that it was frost.

Lambs ears flowers are purple, and come in the spring. Mullein flowers are yellow, and come in the summer.

And the growing central clumps are very different. Above is lambs ears, and below is mullein. Now that I look more closely, the mullein leaves have a different pattern of frost, as well.

Horse Chestnuts

After the horse chestnuts had been in the bowl for a few days, they showed

evidence that they were drying out. No longer as shiny and plump.

Remembrance Day

Today is Remembrance Day, the anniversary of the signing of the treaty ending World War I, the Great War, the War to End All Wars.

This is the National War Memorial, beside the Parliament Buildings in downtown Ottawa.

A few years ago, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was added to the site, and someone had laid a single red rose there, the day I visited.

This is a time to remember the fallen, and those who caught up the torch, to continue the fight. We owe them more than we can ever pay.

Horse Chestnuts on the Ground

Every fall, the squirrels and I argue over who collects the horse chestnuts when they fall.

I love to have a handful in the pocket of my jacket.

No particular reason, just the colour and the texture.

The easiest way to break open the spiky pods is to step on the carefully, just enough to brwak the green, and not enough to break the actual nut.

Horse Chestnuts on the Tree

http://lilacgate.blogspot.com/2009/06/horse-chestnut-flowers.html

Do you remember in the spring, when I was posting horse chestnut flowers? Well, here are the results of those flowers! I don't think I have done the link right, but it will get you there.