End of October

I had to capture the trees around here before the leaves blew off entirely. The cherry trees are already bare. It’s been windy, foggy, and rainy and feels like autumn is truly here, though today was relatively nice and I enjoyed a bike ride to get my flu shot.

A Japanese maple tree in a terra cotta pot. It’s mostly bare but there are red leaves still hanging on.

A Japanese maple tree with clusters of red leaves on mostly bare branches.

Closeup of a red-orange Japanese maple leaf.

Mossy branches of a maple tree with golden leaves and deep brown maple keys.

Closeup of golden maple leaves and dark brown maple keys.

The leaves of the big maple have turned golden and are half gone now, which leaves mossy limbs and bunches of maple keys visible. In particularly windy weather, I’ve been seeing the keys flying through the air like tiny helicopters. It’s really joyful to see.

Mossy branches conceal a nest that looks like a cluster of leaves and twigs.

An adorable grey squirrel has been building a drey (nest) in the big maple. I’m pretty sure they’re re-using a crow’s nest that was already there and it’s been really fun watching it prance back and forth in the branches with mouthfuls of leaves.

Branches of a maple tree with green leaves turning red and yellow at the tips

Closeup of maple leaves, some green and some with red and gold tips.

Green, gold, and red maple leaves are mostly blurry with just a few points in focus

The smaller maple at the front of the building is finally changing colours. This one is changing to red and yellow at the tips.