Another Season Ends

On our last trip to the lake we stopped for a season ending drive through Itasca State Park.

We were fortunate to have reached the peak of the color in this area.  In a couple of days the leaves have fallen and some trees are bare.

Such beautiful Red and White Pine trees sprinkled with colorful Maples.

We stopped by the hundred foot fire tower.  M was not game, but I slowly plodded to the top.  Can you see it in the background?

It was fun to get an eagle's view of the woods, though the higher I went, the more the tower shook.

I convinced myself that it was safe... they wouldn't let you climb it if it wasn't safe, right?

I am amazed that my sense of location is gone when I get to altitude.  I would never make a cross country pilot.

It was a beautiful day for a hike in the woods of Northern Minnesota with my favorite hiking partner.  So another season ends for us at the lake.  Always too short.

Visitors and an observation

Sunrise isn't always spectacular on Eagle Lake.  Sometimes the sun has to burn off the fog that is common this time of year.

We've had a number of visitors this summer but I usually forget to take their picture.  This time I remembered... friends from the camp ground and a visitor from Pennsylvania.  Good to see Lee again.  One dear friend who stopped by this summer for a visit and supper, has gone home to be with his Lord.  We will miss you, Ralph.

With the season changing, I put out some suet for the birds.  Here is the smallest Woodpecker in the forest... the Downy Woodpecker.  Compare his size with the biggest Woodpecker.

The Pileated Woodpecker.

They share a love of suet in common.

I learned something about trees in our park recently.  We have several  kinds of Evergreen trees in the park and I have trouble distinguishing between the Red and White pines.

But now I think I have distinguished their difference even though they look alike in their green branches.  Here is a Red Pine... its bark looks red.

The White Pine bark is noticeably diffent.

This time of year the needles fall heavily under the pines.  The White Pine needles have five needles and the Red Pine has two.  Whether it is five or two, they make a mess that will get raked in the Spring.

Fall Falls Quickly at Eagle Lake

Fall comes quickly at Eagle Lake in Northern Minnesota.  This beautiful sunrise was a prelude to the Fall colors that abound near our campsite.

It only took a few days for this Maple on the golf course to go from this...

to this.

We found a beautiful lane on the way to Beauty Lake and though it was cloudy, the colors were spectacular.

The Swans were enjoying rest after raising their young and before they head to warmer climes.

I am amazed at the colors Maple trees can become.  There are brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows.  I took a lot of pictures on this lane because the Fall is nearing its peak in Northern Minnesota.

Some trees are both red and yellow.

Pictures just don't do the beauty justice.  I only wish that the color stayed around a little while longer.  A few more days, a little wind and rain, and the beauty of this Fall will turn into the bleak of winter.  We close our cabin the end of September and will open again, Lord willing, in May.

Rainbows and rainbows

The other night the neighbor came over to say a beautiful rainbow was over the lake.  By the time I grabbed my camera, the best of it was done, but it still was wonderful.

Then on the way home we stopped by a favorite nursery.  This time of year the flowers are at their peak.

But another couple of months and this Lily will not be the only thing that is white.

The Farmers' Almanac is predicting a cold, snowy winter for our part of the world. 

I would guess that is a pretty safe prediction any year up here.  It is hard to believe but the first killing frost usually occurs in the month of September.

But until that time, I will enjoy the rainbow on the lake and rainbow colors of the summer flowers.

M planted a Santa Cruz Begonia that has been a particularly showy addition near our Park Model.  We will try to remember it's name next Spring, Lord willing, when we are again looking for some color.

Friends from GF stopped on Labor Day and we took a drive to Walker.  He spied this grumpy guy sitting on a dead tree.

They always look like they got up on the wrong side of the bed/nest.  I guess I might look like that too if I had to sleep outside in the top of a swaying tree in Minnesota.