October 2020

Nine species of dragonflies in North America are known to be migratory. The ones that breed in New England are now shipping out.

The male catkins on beaked hazelnuts are fully formed. Good to know that somebody’s thinking about spring.

I’m happy to have the company of western conifer seed bugs in the house in the winter. They are beautiful – try looking with a hand lens to get the full picture – and not harmful. Just trying to keep warm.

It’s time to forgive blackberries for all the scratches they inflict in the summer. Now their red-purple leaves are the best looking wild thing going.

Blueberries are the best looking cultivated thing going. The mix of yellow and red in the leaves is strangely appealing.

Finally, a rainy day, but a cold rainy day, and as I was fretting about the chilled birds in our yard, a junco dived into a roof run-off puddle to bathe. It looked so happy as it vigorously shook and wiggled. A new perspective, for sure.

There’s not much to find that’s edible in the woods now. But the woods in early morning are spectacularly beautiful.

There should be a nip in the air now but instead we bask in temps in the 70s. The comfort of warmth comes with an undercurrent of worry.

The droughty September conditions in Vermont emptied wells and turned goldenrods just about crispy. But, consequently. logging conditions were good and now, a few rains later, loggers are complaining about mud.

A band of low clouds is flying off to the southeast, while the higher ones proceed northwards in a more stately manner. Perhaps the atmosphere is always busy, but it’s not often so visible. Down here, there’s no wind at all.