Soothed

Returning from Saratoga Springs, we stopped briefly in the village and I had Grant swing around by a newly-harvested field so I could photograph the remaining row of corn.

A few stalks of corn may be seen in almost all such fields but this particular farmer always leaves a long row and why I don’t know, but it fascinates me.

.

While I was taking pictures, the Sun lit up a clump of trees.

.

From close up, two other much shorter rows were noticeable.

This happens every year, so it is quite deliberate. Perhaps the farmer is an artist.

It is suggested, however that these rows of corn are left:

“for natural snow control, crop insurance assessments, and wildlife sustenance.”

..

The leaves on these two red maples did not change colour this year, simply shrivelling up and falling off, as if the trees couldn’t wait to be done with 2026.

.

Elsewhere the foliage was still quite thick.

.

But the following day we woke to thick frost.

.

Which rather changes the look of things.

.

It may have started off chilly, but this was another stunner of a day.

.

Time for another trip across the state line.

.

The scene had changed drastically.

.

But a lot of colour remained.

.

The canopy was opening up, allowing in more light.

.

To fully appreciate Fall, you need to do this sort of journey more than once.

.

Living here, we have the luxury of being able to do just that.

.

In places, it seemed Winter had set in already.

.

While minutes away we were back to Fall.

.

It is really rather wonderful to be able to immerse oneself in the marvel of Fall.

.

The experience is largely visual, but there is more to it.

.

Standing out there in the woods, your other senses engage.

.

The brush of wind against your skin, cool but not yet cold.

.

On the wind you catch the unique, earthy scent of Fall, of leaves breaking down.

.

The wind washing over you carries too the quiet sounds of woodland creatures readying their nests and the gentle cracking of branches above you, the crunching of leaves at your feet.

.

The reason I favour the later stages of Fall is because the thinning of foliage offers a better chance of appreciating the multitude of colours as they change with the light.

.

Alternately red, gold, copper…

.

Light filtering in from the canopy falls onto a million surfaces.

.

It was like driving through fire, without the heat or terror.

.

There are few experiences as soothing as a Fall afternoon in the woods.

.