Nature Notes #136 THE GENUNG NATURE PRESERVE- FREEVILLE, N.Y.

Lovely is the deep blue sky with dappling sun leaking through newly opened canopy onto fresh, leaf-covered woodland ground. Who can resist this invite, every day a new masterpiece of sun and blue sky, and leafy color above one’s head and at one’s feet.


Often fall can be cold and wet and windy, especially late October and early November, this fall we have been blessed with abundant sunshine. With adequate moisture and plenty of sun fall color has already lasted a very long time this year, although the color was not as brilliant as it could have been with a few more frosty nights.
The trail into the Genung Nature Preserve in nearby Freeville, N.Y. along Fall Creek invited one fine day, a short but pleasant walk, especially on an early fall afternoon, warm and full of sun.
An open copse of American hornbeam, commonly called ironwood or blue-beech, dominated a section of the trail. The open, airy look gives an almost mature feel to the wooded area and the reddish fall foliage, both on the ground and the few left on the trees gives a warm glow. Often recently abandoned farm fields growing into woods are a tangled mess of vines and shrubs, small trees and bramble.

A nice clump of coral mushroom was caught posing for a portrait, a brief moment basking in a spot of sun shining through a canopy break




Along the bank of Fall Creek a mature oak and younger maple held out their leaves to catch some last moments of sun for this growing season.





As the season is fall, the sun settles too quickly and with barely enough day left, Dryden Lake beckons just down the road . As the sun drops lower in the sky a fisherman, perhaps with un-baited hook to avoid being disturbed by a luckless fish, quietly sits soaking up his fair share of autumn sun.


Each moment needs to be savored, one never knows how many more, if any, warm and sunny fall days will be.


Written late-October, posted today. RDS