My Morning Walk

This morning it was a bit overcast, but the temperatures were warm, so I grabbed the pup and headed out for my morning walk. Normally, I just walk along the streets in my rather small neighbourhood. This area is surrounded by two major roads and a railroad track, none of which I like to cross over on a regular basis. 

The fall colours are still slow in coming. Today it's warmed up to 20C and in previous years when it's so warm so late in the year, the colours are not great, and the leaves sort of dry up right on the tree in a greenish brownish hue and then drop off. It's the brisk, cold weather that brings out the best colours.

Today I went up and across the major road and onto a short paved trail that runs alongside a pond.

The pond was once a part of a farm. I used to take kids skating on this pond in the winter, and it is still used by the neighbourhood kids for hockey games. The last few winters were great because the ice never melted until I think, what, June?!

Not a lot of water showing, mostly bull rushes, as we've had a rather dry fall.

And now onto the paved pathway. It's pretty along here, I just wish it was a longer trail.

Lots of willows and sumac lining both the pond and the path.

The goldenrod is about halfway finished. Some is still bright, deep gold, while other plants have already withered to brown. I hope Cody's allergies aren't too aggravated by me taking him along with me. I noticed he was limping slightly, so I think it's back to the baby socks for him.

My childhood home in the country had willows lining a small creek on that property. I loved those willows, and these are some of the same type (in right of below photo).

A very tiny creek trickles along the pathway and eventually empties into the pond. Sometimes there are ducks living down here in the shadowy waters. Didn't see anything today except water striders.

End of the pathway for me today, and I turned around after taking the next photo.

There's still evidence of the big ice storm from a few winters ago. The trees along this pathway were badly damaged. A lot of broken trees were sawn off and taken away, but there are some that still hang dead or dying that do not cross the path directly.

I recently picked up a Peterson's Field Guide of Wildflowers from the thrift store. I thought I'd try my luck at identifying some of the flowers I see around here.

I think this is "Butter and Eggs" or Toadflax. Apparently this is an alien plant.

I couldn't find a decent ID of this next flower. It looks like it might be of the orchid family.

The next one I couldn't find either, but I see it everywhere. Honestly, the book I bought is a bit old, originally printed in 1968, but this copy was reprinted in 1996. I wonder if they updated it even. Half of the pictures are not even in colour. I'm better at identifying birds than flowers in the wild.

I think this book might have been a waste of money now that I actually looked through it!

Well that was my walk this morning. the clouds dispersed by the time I returned home, but they have again closed in this afternoon and it sort of looks like rain is lurking with that strange greenish lighting.

We're gearing up for Thanksgiving weekend here, how about you? Obviously only Canadians will be celebrating this weekend. The big turkey dinner shopping will be done on Friday night. My daughter is coming home for the first time since beginning of September ... she would never miss a turkey dinner!! Her favourite food ;) 

I've skipped seeing my dad for two weekends in a row, but will be out to visit him again this Saturday to take him for his walk along the trail beside his nursing home. Here he is two weeks ago ...

I had to get a photo of him beside this very tall grass!! I would love some of this along my fenceline as privacy for our pool. Thanks for being a good sport Dad ;)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

We moved our fish indoors and I moved in a lot of plants. I'll leave photos of all of that for another day.

Wendy

.... oh, and Cody, of course!