Today is the Fall Equinox! We're three fourths of the way through the year. Even though the green tree canopy of summer still predominates, things are beginning to look different.
Click here to see the introductory post from January. Compare the August issue here.
The Pond. Under a crisp blue autumn sky, the pond vegetation has continued to turn brown, while a stand of goldenrod can be seen beyond the far shore.
The Tree. Three days after being full, the soon to set moon can be faintly seen near the upper-right corner of the big oak tree.
The Field. While the soybeans continue to mature, the corn field in the far background has turned from green to brown since last month's visit.
The Mountain. The morning sun highlights the sandstone bluffs on Jasper Mountain. The Cumberland Plateau is typically capped with a layer of sandstone, with limestone usually occurring at varying depths beneath. The limestone is where the many caves in this part of the country are located.
The River. In this month's view, the calm surface of the river reflects the deep blue of the sky.
Random Shot--Goldenrod. While aggravating some people's allergy problems, goldenrod adds a splash of yellow to many landscapes in late summer and early fall. Until today, I thought goldenrod was goldenrod, but according to my Audubon Society wildflower guide, there are about 125 species of golderod in the United States. Of the seven varieties pictured in the field guide, this looks most like Showy Goldenrod.
Osprey Encounter. A few days ago, as I was walking past the back pond (the one near the red oak tree), an osprey suddenly appeared, diving straight down into the pond. It then came back up with a fish in its talons and flew away. Of course, I didn't have my camera with me at the time. But you never know when you might have an experience like this at Kimball Park.
Be sure to check back next month for another installment of the Kimball Park Project--2013.
Bob Butters All photos: Bob Butters