Peek at Peak

And so the months pass with our house still on the market. Who knew when we listed it that this would probably turn out to be the worst time to do so? I'm learning patience. And trying to appreciate our life here in this pretty part of the county as fall progresses.

It really is lovely watching the leaves change color and the air becoming crisper. Over the weekend, Wes and I took the time to take a l-o-n-g walk in the Daniel Wright Forest Preserve. (Due to reading a trail map incorrectly, it was twice as long as we had anticipated, but it sure gave us a chance to use our foraging skills and converse at length!)

The question came up: "How do you really know when the colors are at their peak?" We think it is harder to tell in some places more than others...especially here in Illinois. In the U.P. of Michigan, the colors all seem to explode pretty simulateously with brilliant reds, oranges, yellows and lime greens and are offset beautifully with the dark green pines. Here? You can see ONE tree that is firey red, and the tree next to it is summer green, and next to that one is a tree with bare branches.

No matter what the peak time is, it still feels good to be out walking in the woods, especially when it comes to crunching in the leaves and smelling the earthy scent. It always amazes me that there can be so many leaf shapes on the forest floor, combining together the species forever as they decay and provide for the next generation of new life. Never before have I seen a leaf like this one. Huge. With two leaves on the stem before the big one pops out. And the cutest little baby leaf shape attached to the top. Good thing I work at a library and can give myself the research assignment of naming its tree. Do you know it?