The world is still beautiful.
The fall prairies are turning browner and more wintry looking.
This is Buffalo Ridge Prairie from last week, when there was still some green in the mowed path, and more color in the oak leaves.
Hidden Oaks Meadow and Armund’s Gap
Hidden Oaks Point
The setting sun from the bench on Hidden Oaks Point. I love watching it shine through the grass and goldenrod seeds. The photo doesn’t show the strands of silk caught in the tops of the plants. They must be from spiders or caterpillars, and they really show up in the low rays of the sun.
We’ve had a few misty mornings, with mist so thick that we could barely see across the valley.
One day there was a ‘fog bow’ – only the second time we’ve ever seen one.
Round-headed Bush Clover, grasses, and a few green willow leaves
Morning sun through the row of planted pines
Morning sun over the wetland
Mist rising from the creek.
The days have mostly been warm, but some of the mornings are frosty.
It’s amazing to be still finding a few flowers…
Harebell
Still some butterflies – this is an Eastern Comma
We’re seeing Ctenucha Moth caterpillars on the road in the mornings now. These moths spend the winter as caterpillars, and wake up and crawl around whenever the air temperature gets above about 20F.
We’ve been experimenting with a new Google Maps technique called Photo Spheres. The photos really are spheres, so if you click and drag in the photos, you can spin around and see the scenery in all directions. Try them full screen to see more of the details.
Indian Grass Point
The Knife Edge Point
The weather for the last month has been dry and sunny, so we’ve made great progress on our clearing project. Here’s the ‘before’ photo of the hillside, from October 1.
And here it is on November 4.
This is looking up through the same woods – some cleared, some we’re still working on.
A white deer in Pine Point Prairie last week. We had two white fawns this spring, but one disappeared, and we weren’t sure what happened to the other one. But it looks like it made it. This was taken from *very* far away.
Little Bluestem
Hidden Oaks Point
Reflections
