All Of Spring And Summer’s Efforts Fade Away: A Fall Walks At Community Park

Once again the Earth revolves around our Sun and the seasons  change. Here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, in the Northern Hemisphere,  that means shorter days, longer nights and colder weather. And an end to all of the growth  put forth by the trees, plants and flowers. It seems like just yesterday these  leaves, now dead and falling from the trees,  filled us with so much excitement as they first sprouted in Spring. 

Now they cover the forest floor and provide a noisy and colorful.  carpet before the Winter snows. 

I decided to talk advantage of the sunshine yesterday and walked along the shores nearby Lake Irena at Community Park late yesterday afternoon and again this morning. 

The park was quite and empty yesterday. Only one elderly gentleman sat and watched the few geese and ducks that remained on the water. 

Except for the cawing of a fews crows, the air was silent. No song birds. No insects buzzing  in the air.  No crickets or cicada. Only a few last flowers remained, in defiance of the cold and long nights. But they won’t last long. 

There are still a lot of leaves remaining on the trees but they lack the vibrant colors of other years because of the dry Summer we have had. The paths now have a sullen and sad feeling about them. 

Today there  were more people at the park, a few joggers, some fishermen and families at the playground but still not near as crowded as those warm weekends in Summer.  There was plenty activity at the nearby airport, with many small planes taking off and landing.  .

And some  with a few folks brave enough to jump out of them. 

It always makes me sad to see the warm weather end, but I always remember, nature isn’t dying, just going to sleep for the Winter.  And there will always be another Spring. In only a few months the first snowdrops,  crocuses  and skunk cabbage will be pushing through  the snow. Here is a link to some more photographs from my hikes at Community Park.  https://keepyoureyespeeled.net/photographs-page-2/nggallery/photographs-page-two-blog/Community-Park-Hazle-Township-October-29-2016-

“And every year there is a brief, startling moment
When we pause in the middle of a long walk home and
Suddenly feel something invisible and weightless
Touching our shoulders, sweeping down from the air:
It is the autumn wind pressing against our bodies;
It is the changing light of fall falling on us.”
― Edward Hirsch