The path goes ever on... (Nerstrand Big Woods State Park)

The path goes ever on… (Nerstrand Big Woods State Park)

The vagaries of fall color mystify me. On many streets and avenues in the Twin Cities, the fall colors are magnificent! Yet on a drive to through south-eastern Minnesota (Hastings, Red Wing, Frontenac State Park, Nerstrand Big Woods State Park) yesterday, the trees were past peak with most of the leaves on the ground. There were small pockets of color but nothing like what remains here in the Twin Cities. I had expected that the colors in southeastern Minnesota would be later than in the Twin Cities but that was not the case. Their peak had peaked and gone already.

Curving Path at Big Willow Park

Curving Path at Big Willow Park

“The leaves fall, the wind blows, and the farm country slowly changes from the summer cottons into its winter wools.”
Henry Beston

It’s a mystery to me, but I still found beauty in the autumn landscape. These photos are from walks in Big Willow Park in Minnetonka, MN (made with iPhone camera) and from Red Wing, Frontenac State Park and Nerstrand Big Woods State Park (made with Canon 5D Mark III).

Minnehaha Creek at Big Willow Park

Minnehaha Creek at Big Willow Park

The beautiful fall weather is such a gift! Saturday, I reluctantly made my spring/summer to fall/winter wardrobe change. I packed up all my light and short-sleeved summer clothes and brought out my winter fleece, flannel, sweaters, and long underwear. Then Sunday, with the warm day predicted, I broke out one last summer shirt to wear (or is it the last?).

Bare tree surrounded by gold (Big Willow Park)

Bare tree surrounded by gold (Big Willow Park)

I love the fall colors but always feel a bit sad as the leaves fall and bare trees are left. The colorful landscape gives way to shades of gray and brown soon to be followed by white snow. The end of autumn signals a more challenging winter season (for me).

This coming winter I am looking forward to getting back on cross country skies and trying snow shoeing now that I am feeling better and experiencing less pain.

But I will still miss the warm weather and the green things growing and probably won’t get out for as many walks when the snow is deep and temperatures low.

Along the path at Big Willow

Along the path at Big Willow

Short of moving somewhere warm for the winter, what are your winter survival tips? How do you keep moving and keep your spirits high during the cold season?

I vividly remember my trip home from my walk-about in Hawaii in February 2012. As I left Hawaii everyone (including me) was attired in bright colorful clothing. Then I landed in Seattle and spent some time in the airport there waiting for my final flight home. I was astounded (and a little depressed) to be surrounded by people wearing blacks, navy blues, and grays, but almost no bright color. It makes me wonder if we subconsciously mimic our surroundings. What is the psychology of color? And why are so many of our warm winter clothes dark colors?

Why not brighten up the winter season by choosing more colorful clothing to wear?

May you walk in beauty.

View of Red Wing from Skyline Drive

View of Red Wing from Skyline Drive

Empty camp sites at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Empty camp sites at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Picnic table with bright colors in downtown Hopkins

Picnic table with bright colors in downtown Hopkins

Frontenac Overlook of Mississippi River

A Bright Spot in Frontenac Overlook of Mississippi River

Big Willow Path

Big Willow Path

Backlit leaf and fern at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Backlit leaf and fern at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Big Willow View

Big Willow View

Tall Trees at Nerstrand Big Woods

Tall Trees at Nerstrand Big Woods

Frontenac

Frontenac

 

Categories: Photography

Marilyn

Photographer sharing beauty, grace & joy in photographs and blog posts. I live in the Twin Cites in Minnesota, the land of lakes, trees, and wonderful nature.

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