Finding the signs of Fall

On my walk today, I was looking for signs of Fall.  I encourage everyone to go outside and look for at least ten signs of Fall.  Please write to me and tell me what you find.  While you are looking for the signs of Fall, use all of your senses; get into the moment and really listen, smell, look, feel, and taste.  Here are the signs of fall that I experienced.

1st sign of fall, yellowing leaves on the Yellow Birch tree.

Yellow Birch

2nd sign of fall, red berries on the dogwood trees.

Dogwood Tree

3rd sign of fall, yellow leaves on the Frasier Magnolia tree

Fraser Magnolia

4th sign of fall, Basswood leaves getting lacey holes in the leaves.

Basswood Tree leaves

5th sign of fall, Devils Walking Stick tree changing colors.

Devil's walking stick changing colors

6th sign of fall, Dahlias are in bloom.

Dahlia in bloom

7th sign of fall, Yellow fall wildflowers are everywhere.

8th sign of fall, A big blue Carolina sky.

My 9th sign of fall, listening to the fall insects singing.

My 10th sign of fall, was the feel of coolness in the air.

You know life happens every day, time ticks by second by second.  We get so busy at work and school and home.  Take time from your day and notice what is happening around you in nature.
Parents, I challenge you to take your kids outside and sit with them on the earth, walk in the woods, walk down the street in your neighborhood.  Get outside and notice what is happening all around you. Ask your kids to notice ten changes that are happening in nature as our season is changing to fall.

Write to me and tell me the changes you observe.
Celerylady@gmail.com

Elk in Cataloochee by a lone tree in the field

This weekend I went on a trip to the Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  I joined the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences for this trip.  NC Museum of Natural Sciences

I was fascinated by the elk in this grass field with the lone tree standing as a sentinel on this cool, fall foggy morning.  Most of the elk were eating the grass or resting; however, the bull elks went at it antler to antler.  The sounds, the smells and what we witnessed in this male elk ritual, created a sense of awe in all of us as we stood spell bound in silence.   To see nature in all it's majesty instilled a feeling of reverence in our group that is still with me.  I have such a feeling of gratitude and respect for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park for preserving the land and bringing back the elk to this habitat for us any others to be witness to a day in the life of such a magnificent species.

You can read more about the elk in Cataloochee at Smoky Mountain National Park Elk.

Cataloochee valley in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Elk mating behavior in Cataloochee Valley