H
Anticipation
Cardinal dons his shawl,
leaf begins to fade
"Tread lightly!" I implore Jack Frost,
for I long to see
dogwoods burning brightly,
oaks blushing deeply, birch crowning gold
joining smoldering sumac swaying,
caressing mountain's side,
proclaiming Autumn's glory.
by Margaret Bednar, September 29, 2015
The cardinal grows new feathers August through September and the edges are tipped with brown which dulls their appearance until spring when the tips have worn off and becomes a bright red. This is something new I learned today as I noticed the cardinals were a bit drab looking today.
If a heavy frost hits early in the season, the sun and cool nights will NOT have a chance to change the leaves to their rightful bright fall colors. The sumac turns red first, so I guess it is not threatened.
I hope I make it up to the mountains before the colors peak - and I hope Mr. Frost politely stays away.
This is linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - The Tuesday Platform".
18 comments:
Interesting fact on the cardinal, and the colors of fall one of the things I most look forward to at this time of year!
I imagine Autumn in your part of the world to be the most beautiful season.
Indeed a pretty picture...
I didn't know that about the cardinal. They are a sight for sore eyes when winter white is covering everything. Lovely autumn poem
You had me at birch crowning gold and simmering sumac swaying!
So correct.. we want the frost to move gently and just kiss the foliage lightly.. some of the maples have turned orange in the highest branches here.. and I can see that our red squirrels are growing a thick tail..
This landscape, unfamiliar to me, sounds very beautiful.
Your poem evokes all the colours and feeling of Autumn.It is a magical season in the northern hemisphere.
Cardinal dons his shawl,
leaf begins to fade
proclaiming Autumn's glory
There are signs of change and Mr Frost need not have to make an appearance yet.There is so much expectation and anticipation of Fall's wonders.So much fun to be in the thick of things.You are so privileged Marge, to be able to enjoy bird-watching!
Hank
Not ready, not ready! Here I am in foliage heaven but desperately clinging to the season past. Argh.
Lovely, Margaret. This is gorgeously vivid.
In a way this could also be called a prayer. Autumn was always my favorite time of month when I lived up north (in Florida now).
hi
I received two comments from you...thank you.
Whatever you did this time it works:)
Rall
I want to be on that walk with you! I love all the seasons equally it's the changes I love when they happen!
It will be winter in the blink of an eye.
Thanks for visiting.
Hey Margaret--I too want the frost to tread lightly--the leaves are beautiful upstate still, and I've been swimming (though it is freezing.) You describe well how we love the fall, and wish it would not go by so fast! k.
The cardinal knows what to do, you told it nicely, Margaret.
For Fall, we had humming birds stop by one afternoon to visit the red bottlebrush trees. I missed getting a picture of them unless perhaps just one. The cardinals stay but I haven't seen any for quite a while. Not robins either but lots of doves and then blackbirds in the business areas.
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