Early Spring Time Warp

Spring is on steroids this year.  Normally we get a day, maybe two, during the month of March when the air is warm and the temps stretch into the 70s. Then the Canadian winds invade again, the temperatures fall back into the 40s and 50s, and then the rains begin in earnest. No so this year.  We're currently in the midst of an unheard-of heat wave with temps well into the 80s, several days in a row.  Because of all this heat, the spring flowers have been in fast-forward mode.  Take my magnolia, for example.  Last night it had full buds but no blossoms.  This morning, it looked like this:

All this in just eight hours, a process which usually takes weeks!  The flowers are running about six weeks ahead of schedule, and it has put me in a bit of a time warp.  Here we are in mid-March, but when I look around outside, it looks like May.  It's all a bit weird.  But I love spring, and I'm glad it's sprung early this year!

Catching up with the Big Guys

I mentioned earlier this month about the trees on Fillmore that were finally sporting their fall colors.  The maple tree on the north side of our house is just now turning color, while the other trees a mere half a block west are now bare.  I don't mind, because it makes the fleeting colors of fall feel like they are lingering just a bit longer.

Oh, and the clear, bright blue sky is pretty great too!

Transition to Fall 2011

There are two trees located just west of our house on Fillmore, and every year they are the first two trees to sport their fall colors.  Often they begin their transformation a week or so before the kids head back to school, and I'm always a bit startled the first time I look out my living room window and notice the change.  What?!  Fall already?!  Where did the summer go?! is usually what I'm thinking when I realize what's happening.

Fall's hitting late this year, as summer is on its, like, third last hurrah - it's almost 80 and sunny today.  Anyway, I remember over the Labor Day weekend, I was looking out the living room window at the trees, seeking their visual cue that fall was on its way.  I remember thinking that the trees were running late this year.  In fact, it's only been in the last few weeks that these trees have finally started to turn.

As I finished my run this morning, I noticed that the two trees are finally in full fall glory, blazing the trail toward fall colors, setting the example for the other trees on the block:

It really is that beautiful!  The sun shining on the leaves, contrasting with a bright blue sky, makes me kind of wish that I could throw a blanket under the tree, lie down and stare up at the leaves all day long.  Since that's just not a realistic option, I've made this picture the wallpaper on my computer.

Ready to Move On

This is the view out my front porch:

This is how I feel about it:

'Nuf said.

Thatcher's Golden Canopy

Every year about this time, I look forward to driving over to Thatcher Woods where Strikers soccer practice is held.  There's always a week in the fall where the drive thru the woods over to the open field is a gorgeous golden canopy.  Last week the leaves were just beginning to change, but hadn't quite made it to "golden canopy" status.  I was worried with winds in the 50 mph range a few days ago that perhaps all the leaves would be down already and I would have missed this glorious spectacle. This afternoon when I turned the corner, I was thrilled to see this:

If the sun is shining in the late afternoon when the golden canopy is at its peak, the colors are positively how-stopping.  Today was cold and cloudy and so the colors were a bit muted, but still worth noting.

Beautiful fall, I'm so glad you're here!

Color Canapy

This year more than most, the trees are turning color slowly, from the top down.  As I've walked around town, I've noticed many trees seem almost stuck in transition, with their tops tinted in bright fall colors while their bottoms cling stubbornly to their summer green hue.  Here's what that looks like in our back yard:

I have to admit that I feel this sense of urgency with respect to photographing the two large elms that grace the parkway in back of our house.  Even tho they are but a shadow of their former selves, they are still majestic, stretching higher than any of the other trees on Fillmore.  I know their days are numbered.  Really, I'm not a tree hugger, but I love these two old trees that frame the maple across the street with such grace and beauty.  I hope they live to see another fall, but just in case they don't, I'm chronicling their final walk thru the seasons.

Fall Speaking Softly

I mentioned about a month ago that fall was beginning to whisper.  As I drove out to Iowa today, I noticed that fall has found its voice, and it is speaking softly.

While I thoroughly enjoy living the suburban Chicago life, there are times I really miss being in the country.  I miss sunsets.  I was reminded just how gorgeous they can be across a Midwest sky when I saw this sight:

It was such a beautiful sight, I paused and watched for several minutes as the sky danced between pink and purple before showing off a hint of orange and then finally fading to gray...magnificient!