How often is it that one starts to go to point A, makes a wrong turn, finds point B, and discovers something unexpected and remarkable? One late afternoon this past week, I was headed north out of Saint Paul to meet a friend. With an extra 25 to 30 minutes to spare, I got off the interstate to wander to a side highway. Fortunately (?) I missed the turn and continued east, and stumbled into the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area. My GPS showed lakes and sloughs on either side of me. As I wandered down an unpaved road I came to a dike. The sun was low in the sky and bathed the gold and red leaves in a warm evening light, offering up this late fall color, accompanied by the sounds of geese honking overhead. All this beauty of nature was unexpectedly waiting for me on the outskirts of the city, yet it transported me to a wild and natural area far removed from the day’s hustle and bustle.
Saint Paul
Autumn carpet
This may have been our last weekend for fall color here in the Twin Cities. As the past week progressed we had cooler temps, rain, and more wind, culminating in yet another early snowfall on Friday. With all these conditions the leaves have been falling much more regularly, carpeting the lawns, sidewalks, and streets. I took a walk along the Mississippi River Road on the Saint Paul side of the River. The temps were mild and there were many people enjoying the sights and smells of autumn. Along the path I saw a small grouping of trees that had lost all their red leaves. At first I was disappointed that I hadn’t seen their vibrant display a few days earlier, and then I realized that the leaves were still just as stunning except that they were carpeting the ground. By lying down on this lush carpet (and confusing many of the passers-by), I was able to focus on the covering of red and gold and remind myself that sometimes the beauty of fall isn’t just at eye level and on the trees, but is often spread out before us at our feet.
Fall colors
How quickly we’ve moved from late summer to fall! The weather change happened almost overnight, with cooler temps and much-needed rain settling into the area. Everyone was digging out their sweaters and jackets, and looking for cool-weather comfort foods to warm them up. With the season change it seems we all look to deeper, richer colors, as seen in the dark maroons and golds of the mums that are in full bloom in our area. Their colors remind us that the lighter shades of summer are past, just like the sun’s heat. But there’s great beauty in the fall too, and they’re a prime example. Soon the leaves on the trees will turn to the reds, golds, and oranges, and they will fall down to decorate the lawns and streets — one last blast of color before the white of winter settles in.
From fair time to fall time
The surest sign of fall is the end of the Minnesota State Fair. With perfect temps and blue skies, the fair set a new attendance record this year. Living just a few blocks away from the fairgrounds has its good and bad — lots of car traffic, people everywhere, the sounds of the shows at the Grandstand, and the fireworks every night. Now the neighborhood returns to its usual routine, and we slide into fall. Already there are spots of color in some of the trees. The temperatures slide a little bit cooler in the evenings, and the sun has lost its intensity. The Canada geese are flying again, cruising over our rooftop as they commute between the agricultural fields at the university and Como Lake. The summer flowers are fading and the fall mums are evident in gardens and on entry steps. This morning the children were standing at bus stops waiting for their first day back at school. All the familiarities that tell us the seasons have changed.
McNeely Conservatory summer flower garden
One of my favorite places to go, whether to photograph or to soothe my soul is the McNeely Conservatory in Como Park. The Sunken Garden flower shows are a feast of color to the eyes and a treat to my sense of smell. Right now the summer flowers are on exhibit in the garden. I was fortunate to be there one night this past week when there were only a few fellow photographers. It was peaceful, calm, and very quiet except for the water flowing at the base of the sculpture. This bronze piece is titled “Play Days” and was created by Harriet Frishmuth in the early 1900’s. On this night the young woman was surrounded by a beautiful reflection of the evening sky and the blooming flowers of summer.
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