13 October 2007

A wee walk in the wind


Although we had a drownpour of rain last night and lots of wind, today we just got wind and cloud. Not too cool, though, so it was a nice day to go do some looking at sights around our community. Inspired a bit by our friend Yolanda Elizabet at Bliss, it seemed like a good idea to share my travels with you. So come along now--just a longsleeved sweater and a vest will do, and you'll only need walking shoes.


Look at the foliage on these wild roses--aren't they rich and wonderful? In the summer, we have a number of species blooming, including R. carolina, R. virginiana, R. palustris...and when they're not in bloom and going into autumn, they're brilliant shades of red and burgundy.


Among my favourite trees, summer or fall, are maples--native maples, that is, not the tiresome, overworked, overused, disease-prone Norway maples that boring nurseries and landscapers palm off on unsuspecting clientele.

Wow! That was pretty sardonic for me, wasn't it? Well, it's true. There are too many Norway maples on the landscape, and this year in the province, they are riddled with tarspot fungus. Now, I have to also tell you I have four or five in our front yard, along the edge near the ditch. We didn't plant them, and as long as they are healthy (and I don't care about a little tarspot), I won't cut them down because I can't cut down a healthy tree...but I prefer native species such as red, sugar and silver maples. Look at the colour in these trees, and you'll see why.


Oh, look; a festive display of pumpkins for sale! Perhaps we should get a couple to put on our front step?


Not a flower in sight, and isn't the foliage in this garden beautiful? Along the side of the road in Habitant, the yard this particular bed is in always catches my eye; a nice balance of form, texture, and four season interest. But gee, it's getting chilly, and that wind is still blowing quite enthusiastically, isn't it? Maybe we should go have coffee?


The North mountain where I live still has vestiges of old growth Acadia forest, although this section has probably been logged at one time or another. But look at the spectacular variety in the maples, ashes and birches along this hillside. They're just starting to get some colour the past couple of days, and within the next week they'll be turning the forest into a wash of colour.


Time to go down and visit the beach in Scotts Bay. In the summer, this is a popular place for picnics, bonfires and rockhounding, but today, it's as deserted as a schoolyard in July. The tide is just about at highwater, so the creek leading down behind the stony beach is full of water, and the marsh of course is always rather spongy.


Not a soul down here, and small wonder; though the waves aren't all that high, the wind is stronger down here than it was in the Valley. The shoreline slopes slowly upwards here, and the tide comes in over several kilometres of mudflats, hence the muddy tinge to the waves coming ashore.



Nope. No one up here, either. It's too windy to collect driftwood for a bonfire today, so maybe we should just walk along the beach for a bit. Don't you love the way the pebbles roll and slide under your feet?


Here's a closeup of some of the pebbles at the highwater line. Further down the beach, the stones are larger, and they gradually decrease in size as we come further up the slope. Among the rocks of the North Mountain we find basalt, quartz, sandstone and granite, and there are irregular seams of agate, amethyst, jasper, and other semi-precious stones too. I love how a handful of pebbles--any handful--is like a cascade of snowflakes--no too the same. Is it any surprise that I have a lot of beach stones at home?


Although this doesn't look like the most solid bridge around, it's been here for years, and is only used by foottraffic of course--of humans and dogs, that is. My horse crosses through the creek, which can be ankle deep or swimable, depending on the stage of the tide. But we left him home today in the pasture with his donkey, and we're walking, not riding, instead. We've had enough of the wind, however, and we're going to head homewards shortly.


Ah...don't the pumpkins look cheery on the doorstep? The door is unpainted yet because it's been too chilly to leave it open for a few hours...the next fine, mild day, it turns yellow like the rest of the doors. And look, there are still annuals blooming in containers--heliotrope, agastache and osteos--plus perennials, which we'll see more on Garden Blogger Bloom Day.


Ah....we stopped earlier today at Blomidon Wines at Habitant Vineyards, and admired the rich blue of the red wine grapes--whether Baco Noir or Marechal Foch, I don't know. But since the antibiotics are gone from my system, and I can have a little wine again...Slainte Mhath, everyone!

13 comments:

  1. hey jodi! those first 2 pictures are so spectacular! i'd love to go on a walk with you. you have the best scenery ever.

    thanks for your comment on my blog about the azaleas. i didnt realize there were multiple colors of the northern lights. thanks for the info. i believe they all said #3, whatever that means.

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  2. I love reading these posts. It gives me a chance to see so many different places. You have such beautiful autumn colors showing! Nothing yet down here in Texas. Fall has to be the most beautiful time of the year with all the flaming colors of the trees.

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  3. You are ahead of us here in fall color, and with our extremely dry summer, it's doubtful we'll experience the vibrant colors you have. In fact, we should be seeing those now, but for the most part, things are just brown with a mere hint of red, orange and yellow. :-(

    This was a wonderful walk, Jodi. I wish I had been there to join you! Such different countryside than we are used to seeing!

    Of course, I must take you on a walk where I live and I shall do so very soon!

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  4. Hi Jodi, your photos brought back a few memories. We toured your lovely area in 89. We were down for a Naval Graduation in Cornwallis. We stayed at Middleton and spread out from there. I'm betting that you must live close to the great 'Look off' above the bay.

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  5. It was a pleasure to stop by and to see your beautiful pictures and reading your post. Autumn has definitely come....here the maple trees already begin to loose their leaves. It was a rather short period with the wonderful flaming colours of the trees.
    Regards from Switzerland,
    Barbara

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  6. Thank you for this lovely walk. I could feel the wind and the scent of the sea.

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  7. Thanks for bringing me along on your walk but you left me at the beach walking Igor-style in a rock hunt. Every time I've moved someone says "geez whadju put in this box? Rocks?" and I sheepishly say "uh yeah. sorry..." Even for a dry summer it looks like you've got plenty of color - something to still look forward to here! (we've only got fall color in pockets so far)

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  8. Such lovely autumn colors on your beautiful stroll. The landscape is breathtaking and makes me want to take out my paint and canvas.

    Thank you for taking us on a wonderful journey into Fall.

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  9. That was a great walk and so diverse! Hills and ocean, what more could one ask. I love your beach pebble picture! If I had that many, that close, I would have a beach pebble mosaic somewhere! Love the fall color!

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  10. Hi all, and welcome to bloomingwriter's funny farm!
    Gina, I added a second comment to your blog clarifying the azalea cultivars; I hope they bloom as fragrant as mine.
    Vanillalotus, do you get a lot of colour changes in the leaves in Texas? (You can tell I know a lot about your world..but I'm learning!)
    Nancy, when you're going to be in Scotts Bay, let me know--if I'm home, I'll put the kettle on!
    Kylee, I would have thought after that drownpour you endured a while back the trees would rally. I'm sorry that things are drab--feel free to drop by here when you need some fall fireworks. I'm looking forward to YOUR walk, next!
    Hi Larry, Yes, we're about 6 km from the LookOff, but we look DOWN the Bay as opposed to into the Minas Basin. I'm going to make it to Saskatchewan one of these days--the only province I've yet to visit. (Maybe some public gardens would like to bring me out...;-)
    Barbara, hi and welcome--your country is another place I hope to visit one day, but at least I get to 'visit' via blogs like yours.
    Verobirdie, bienvenue! I see we share some similar passions (plants, books and cats--I'm not so artistic where textiles are concerned.) I'm glad you enjoyed your walk.
    Kris, I come home with my pockets laden down regularly--and returned from Labrador and Newfoundland with a pile of rocks too. It's always been a habit--tomorrow, I'll bring some back from Antigonish if I hit a seashore along the way...We've had more rain here than a lot of our neighbours, and of course the fog is a mitigating factor.
    Carolyn, you've made me envious, with your talk of paint and canvas...another thing I haven't any talent with is drawing or painting (except walls).
    Layanee, a pebble mosaic is JUST what I need to do, one of these days....Oh uh....
    Must.bring.home.more.pebbles.

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  11. Gorgeous stroll through your scenery, jodi. Thanks for inviting us along for a walk.

    I love the picturesque pebbles on your beaches but I must say there's no way I'd substitute them for our white sands. A little easier on the foot soles!

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  12. wow! superb! u 're really good at taking those pics. it is so beatiful..and the sensation is great.. it calms whoever seen it... really impressive...hope can make it like u too...

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