Evergreen Leaf Catcher

This is a photo I took before the storms after a walk with the wonder dog. This evergreen tree is still standing. I'm rather rushed because I have a real estate closing this morning. It has been delayed for one reason or another for almost a month. Thankfully the house and property suffered no storm damage and passed the re-inspection required by the lender. See you later!

Interesting Tree Fungus

This tree was hollow at the bottom and the fungus had traveled up through the tree trunk. I stuck my hand into the hollow base and it was very hot underground.

The pattern the fungus made is very beautiful, isn't it? A talented woodworker could definitely make something beautiful from this wood. 

Tree Has Been Removed from My Cottage

Click photo to view actual size.

This tree came down on the cottage guided by heavenly angels. Only a few scratched shingles. No broken screens or light fixtures. I found some roving tree men from New Mexico who helped me clear my property. They were earth angels. 

Sassafras Leaves

This is the only tree I know of that has three different leaves on the same tree. Below you see a "mitten" with one thumb. Above you see a "mitten" with no thumb and a "mitten" with two thumbs. I find this tree so fascinating. Photographed yesterday afternoon with my iPhone. It's very colorful in the fall.

sassafras |ˈsasəˌfras|
noun

a deciduous North American tree with aromatic leaves and bark. The leaves are infused to make tea or ground into filé.
• Sassafras albidum, family Lauraceae.

• an extract of the leaves or bark of this tree, used medicinally or in perfumery.

More Autumn Leaves

There are still lots of leaves on the trees here at the cottage. Some trees are absolutely bare though. It always seems that the trees closest to the house are the last to lose their leaves. So I do fall cleanup until it gets really cold. Last year we had that freak show storm over Halloween weekend that was a nightmare. Fingers crossed for a normal fall from start to finish this year.

Nice Tree Bark

I took this photo when Webster and I had our dog duty with his two little friends a few weeks ago. I loved the shadows on the bark of this old tree. We have bright sun and crisp cool air outside here at the cottage today. Our town is giving free flu shots this afternoon and that's the only thing on my calendar. The grass in the front needs a good mowing so I'll fire up the push mower after the morning dew evaporates. See you later. 

Vintage Photo of an Egg-Scraping Party

WOW...Look at the lengths these brave men with their tall ladders are taking to control an insect. Early efforts to eradicate gypsy moths included "egg-scraping parties" to remove egg masses before the larvae hatched. See other archival photos here.

Leaves with spots

I don't know if we are going to have a beautiful fall with lots of color this year or not. There seems to be a total lack of red. Just green, yellow, brown, and then they fall to the ground. So many of the leaves have this spotted disease too. We shall see. There is a light rain this morning and Webster got his walk so I don't have to feel guilty today when I leave for my office meeting and my very own open house. See you later. 

Autumn Leaves at My Cottage

I took this photo with my iPhone while walking the Wonder Dog after dinner in the way back. The setting sun was shining brightly on this cluster of oak leaves. 

Look Down When You Walk

You never know what you might find. My iPhone photo snapped this afternoon on a walk with Webster and my mom.

Tree Silhouette

The Tree of Life by Norby on Flickr via Jersey Lady on Pinterest

Autumn Leaf

Just a beautiful leaf on a shrub turning to show it's autumn colors.

my iPhone photo

Shelf or Bracket Fungi Growing on Tree

I photographed this beautiful large fungi on the base of a tree yesterday. I don't know if all the rain we have had lately is responsible or not but I am always glad when I run across a giant grouping.

Trees

via

my photo

My Mother and A Giant Moth

I took this photo of my beautiful mother sitting on a giant tree trunk in Mendham NJ years ago. I added the giant moth from one of my antiquarian prints with photoshop. Sadly the tree isn't there now. I can't believe they cut it down just because the roots were interfering with the sidewalk as you can well imagine. There has to be another reason ... maybe it was struck by lightening or was diseased. It was one of my favorite things in that bucolic village standing proudly in front of a charming old church with a red door.  

Oak Leaves are Falling

I saw lots of oak leaves on the ground yesterday when I took Webster for his after-dinner walk. Most had teeny tiny acorns buds attached. This one landed on a sycamore leaf. The heavy rain we had all day on Friday is helping to re-green the lawn but unfortunately the only variety that has been reconstituted is the crabby kind. Crabgrass is my least favorite thing about the second half of summer.

This happens every year. I start to see leaves turning color in July. This bright yellow one was floating in the birdbath. I was glad I had my iPhone in my pocket. It's still hot and dry but not as humid here at the cottage.

I love this tree-themed sampler ! ! !

"Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree." ~ Martin Luther

I wish I could find a larger image of this delightful piece of needlework so I could read what's in the lower right portion. It's wonderful, isn't it?
Three Four readers were able to read the small print within the tree lower right. It says, "He who plants trees loves others besides himself." I love that quote by Thomas Fuller too. Thanks so much!!!
This sampler called 'And A Forest Grew' was designed by Karen of Rosewood Manor and the xstitch pattern is available here.

Tree with Orchid Blossoms | Catalpa

I have two towering Common (or Eastern) CATALPA trees that are in full bloom right now back in the lower reaches of my property. The ground around them is covered with blossoms that have fallen.

The clusters of flowers look rather orchid-like, don't they? According to my tree identification book, these trees are common in the south but have migrated as far north as New England. Later in the year, long seed pods will be hanging from these trees. They are rather messy so I'm glad they are in an area where they can 'do their thing' in a naturalized setting. The leaves are huge and give new meaning to 'falling leaves' each autumn. [iPhone photos are mine]