The Last Leaves Of Autumn Always Feel Bittersweet

We managed to cling to autumn color in Vermont through almost
all of October.........

 Today, November 1, feels very much like stick seasons has arrived, right on schedule.  

"All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray," is the most apt lyrics to a song as we look out the window today. 

The woods are bare, save for a few sad brown oak leaves, and the occasional bright yellow hanger on in some of the poplar groves. In northern Vermont, a dark low overcast, punctuated by a few periods of drizzle, add to the gloom.

At least it's unseasonably warm out. 

It'll be a long time before we hear that nice sound of wind blowing through the leafy forests on a breezy spring or summer day.

But by November 1, it was pretty much all gone, and 
stick season had begun.

We had those nice days to close out October. In the late afternoon warmth Sunday the last bastion of fall color lit up my yard.  Three immense poplar trees gleamed yellow in the Indian Summer sun. 

Then a breeze came up. It was nothing much, maybe 15 mph. That set off a blizzard of leaves from those three trees, and the bright colors of autumn were done. Finished. 

I decided to make a video of this bittersweet moment, to say goodbye to the leaves that graced our trees and forests since May. They'll be back, of course, next May, but for now, enjoy the grays of stick season and the winter that will follow. 

Here's the video: Click on this link to view if you don't see the image below, or if you see it, try clicking on it to view on YouTube.