Tag: Autumn Leaves

2025 · Autumn

Last Day of Autumn ~ 2025

TanjaLeave a comment

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

Blossoms gone, just leaves remain
Rich and crisp, strong and tense
Defying all that comes their way
With crackled skin and golden veins
The sun picks out their curling tips
That waver in the autumn glow.
An almanac of vibrancy
Russet, ochre, fills the skies
As I tramp upon the shady floor.
But there, up there,
I see no birds nor hear their song
Yet I can hear October’s air,
Nature’s chanter plays her tune,
Its modest whistle rising high
A thousand leaves dance in reply
Rustling, brushing, side by side
Sweeping, searching, as they blow
In one last crazy dance
Caressing as they rise and fall.
The branches’ softly swishing tails
In unison, they flow
Like a thousand batons synchronized
Or violins in forest guise
Leaves cling tight to their trapeze
Swinging madly in the breeze
I marvel at their majesty
But know it cannot last
For soon the leaves will perish
And all this will be gone.

Author: Paul Colvin

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

2025 · Autumn · Winter

Goodbye, November 2025!

TanjaLeave a comment

🍁🍂☃❄🍁🍂☃❄🍁🍂☃❄🍁🍂☃❄🍁🍂☃❄🍁🍂☃❄🍁🍂☃❄🍁🍂☃❄🍁🍂☃❄

When two seasons collide: this is what it looked like in December 2013.

🍁🍂☃❄🍁🍂☃❄🍁🍂☃❄🍁🍂☃❄🍁🍂☃❄🍁🍂☃❄🍁🍂☃❄🍁🍂☃❄🍁🍂☃❄

2025 · Throwback Thursday

Naugatuck River Valley Backyard Wildlife In November (1) ~ 2021

TanjaLeave a comment

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

1) Eastern Gray Squirrel; 2) Downy Woodpecker; 3) Tufted Titmouse;
4) Blue Jay; 5) Eastern Gray Squirrel; 6) American Robin;
7) Golden-crowned Kinglet

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

~ 11/04/2011 ~

2025 · Connecticut · Throwback Thursday

Kent Falls State Park, Kent, Litchfield County, Connecticut In November 2021

TanjaLeave a comment

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

Frosted Maple Leaves in Kent Falls State Park

This morning, we experienced our first frost of the season in Connecticut. But this didn’t stop Kevin and me from driving to the Kent Falls State Park and doing a little mid-morning hike along the falls. We made sure we wore an extra layer of clothes. And up the trail, we went. The part of the Kent Falls, seen at the bottom of the trail, is only a small portion. The falls have a total drop of 250 feet. Since they wind around the corner, they can’t be seen simultaneously. Kevin and I had to hike up a steep trail to get an idea of how big and how long the falls were running through the hill. Unfortunately, we still haven’t reached the top. However, the part of the trail we’ve hiked was so worth it.

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

– 11/03/2021 –

2025 · Autumn · Connecticut · Throwback Thursday

Echo Lake Park, Watertown, Connecticut In November 2021

TanjaLeave a comment

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

This afternoon, I took another peek at the leaves in Echo Lake Park. And with sadness, I have to say, the “Leaf Peeping Peak Season” is over. Here and there are trees still dressed in Autumn leaves. A lot of them are bare, now. I can tell that November has arrived in New England. Well, I will enjoy what is left for the rest of the season, before I experience my first real Winter in almost two decades.

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

~ 11/01/2021 ~

2025

November … 🍁

TanjaLeave a comment

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

November

November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.
With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.
The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And Earth sinks to rest
Until next spring.

Author: Clyde Watson

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

2025 · Autumn · Throwback Thursday

Echo Lake Park, Watertown, Connecticut In October 2021 (1)

TanjaLeave a comment

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

After I dropped off Sara at school, I drove to Echo Lake Park. I wanted to see how far Autumn had come along. Two weeks ago, there were barely any signs. Now, it looks quite different. Let’s give it another week or two, and the green might be completely gone. The dew and the fog helped to give it an Autumn feeling at the lake. A half a dozen ducks and a bunch of Canada Geese enjoyed this sunny morning as well.

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

– 10/12/2021 –

2025 · Autumn · Connecticut

Stratton Brook State Park, Simsbury, Connecticut In October 2025

TanjaLeave a comment

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

Stratton Brook offers swimming, picnicking, fishing, cycling, interpretive programs, and more in a beautifully wooded setting with ADA accessibility. Originally called Massacoe State Forest, the park’s land was acquired to demonstrate forest fire control techniques along railroads. The railroad tracks have since been replaced by an impressive bike trail shaded by white pines and traveling over scenic brooks and through a covered bridge. Stratton Brook State Park Trail connects the Farmington River Trail to the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail.

: https://ctparks.com/parks/stratton-brook-state-park

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

2025 · Autumn · Our Forest · Throwback Thursday

Our Forest In Mid-October 2021

TanjaLeave a comment

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

There are still many emerald-colored trees in the forest. However, the golden colors become vibrant as October continues. I just hope we will get some crimson mixed in as well. Nothing in sight, yet. But I don’t give up hope. It’s still too early to say how the leaves will be at their peak in another week or so.

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

– 10/11/2021 –

2025 · Autumn · Connecticut

The Heublein Tower At Talcott Mountain State Park, Simsbury, Connecticut In October 2025 (Part II)

TanjaLeave a comment

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

Designed by Smith and Bassette to survive 100 mph (160 km/h) winds, and built by T. R. Fox and Son in 1914, the Heublein Tower served as Gilbert Heublein’s summer home and retreat. Smith and Bassette also designed the north and south wings of the Governor’s Mansion in 1916. Truly an architectural marvel, Mr. Heublein modeled this structure after buildings in his native homeland of Bavaria in Germany. Standing 165 feet (50 m) tall and situated 1,000 feet (300 m) above the Farmington Valley, one can see for several dozen miles in all directions from the top-floor observation lounge. It is also the site of the first home elevator in Connecticut.

When Kevin and I reached the Heublein Tower, we went to the shop to purchase some water and snacks. While we ate, we enjoyed the view over the Farmington River Valley. It is prohibited to eat or drink at the observation lounge.

When we were ready to go upstairs, we had to climb 120 steps to the sixth floor to get to the Heublein Observation Lounge. From there, we had a 360° view. From the tower, Hartford can be seen at a short distance. When the skies are clear, the view reaches all the way across Massachusetts into New Hampshire. I spent some time on the bench up there and soaked in the panorama.

After resting for a little bit, Kevin and I hiked down the Tower Trail. My arch in my right foot was aching. So, I had to take it easy. New insoles or hiking shoes should fix this problem. Thank goodness, there is a shortcut trail that led us down faster. We took in the beautiful Autumn sights. After all, it was a perfect day to hike up the hill. The temperatures were in the mid- to upper 50s (12℃ – 14℃).

Simsbury, Connecticut – October 10th, 2025

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

~ THE END ~

2025 · Autumn · Connecticut

Hiking To The Heublein Tower At Talcott Mountain State Park, Simsbury, Connecticut In October 2025 (Part I)

TanjaLeave a comment

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

Yesterday, I planned a trip to the Heublein Tower at Talcott Mountain State Park. When we arrived at the park today, I wasn’t aware that we still had to hike 1.25 miles (2 km) with an elevation gain of 427 feet (130 meters) to get to the tower. Once we climbed up the steep gravel path, we reached the top of the ridge, where we encountered the western-facing view over the Farmington River Valley. The rest of the trail is almost flat with some gravel and tree roots along the way. I had to sit down a few times to take in the beautiful view while I was resting. But I was motivated enough to make it all the way to the tower. I was well rewarded.

Simsbury, Connecticut – October 10th, 2025

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

… to be continued …

2025 · Halloween · Throwback Thursday

Halloween Season (Part I) 2003 – 2005

TanjaLeave a comment

👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸

2003

This was Katelynn’s First Halloween. She was only 27 days old when I carved the Kitty pumpkin for her. The story behind the pumpkin itself can be found here under this link:
https://underthewhiteoakleaves.com/2022/10/01/my-jack-o-lanterns-2003-2007/

👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸

2004

Katelynn was at the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch for the first time. Oh, she had so much fun playing with the straw. Kevin and I had to fish it out of her clothes later. She was so busy throwing the straw in the air, it went everywhere. The next day, we dressed her up as a lamb. I made the costume myself. The head was a bit big for her. She enjoyed going to Trick-or-Treat with it.

👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸

2005

It was the first year we celebrated Halloween at our new house. I made a DIY-Diddlina candy bag for all the goodies we would receive from going to Trick-or-Treat. On the other hand, Katelynn was still little and a bit unsure if she really liked this whole “Trick-or-Treat” thing. When we walked from door to door, she wasn’t very happy. Once she had some candy, it wasn’t nearly as bad anymore. But she did not like the door-to-door walk at all. A year later, this would be a whole other story. …

👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸👻🎃🕸

… to be continued …

2025 · Autumn · Connecticut · Throwback Thursday

Black Rock State Park, Watertown, Connecticut In October 2021

TanjaLeave a comment

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

Kevin and I hiked in the park for a little bit. Unfortunately, I had the wrong shoes on. We didn’t make it far on the trail before we turned around. But we enjoyed the slow change of leaves. When we walked past a fish pond, Kevin saw a chipmunk and wanted to see where it hid after he went up a small hill. He found an entrance to a den. When he walked down, something jumped against his leg. Kevin looked closer and saw it was a frog. The little Pickerel Frog was patient enough for me to take some photos before it leaped across the trail to get back to the pond. Beautiful critters, we see when we go outdoors.

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

~ 10/03/2021 ~

2025 · Autumn

Hello, October 2025!

TanjaLeave a comment

🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁

October Autumn leaves of red and gold that crunch beneath your feet,
Pumpkins on front porches, candy corn, and trick-or-treat,
Tart and tangy cider, apples ripened on the trees,
A hint of winter is coming on the chilly autumn breeze.

🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁

My favorite month has arrived! October has all the beautiful Autumn activities I like the most. We can go pumpkin picking at the farms, wear sweaters, while shopping for Autumn goodies, and eat and drink a lot of Pumpkin Spice everything. and watch the leaves finally turning in beautiful shades of gold, orange, and red. In the meantime, decorations will go up to make our house and yard look more spooky for the Halloween season.

I LOVE OCTOBER!

🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃🍁

2025 · Autumn · National Day Calendar

Autumnal Equinox/Mabon 2025

TanjaLeave a comment

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

Astronomically, it’s the day when the sun crosses the celestial equator heading south. Thus, Autumn (and Spring) equinoxes provide Earth roughly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. After another blazing hot Summer, the first day of fall signals cooler weather.

From the time of the Druids,  the fall equinox signaled the end of the harvest. Then, winter preparations began. Families celebrated with parties and other social gatherings. Autumn lasts until the Winter solstice.

Today, city dwellers often head to the countryside — for example, rural New England, to take in the changing colors of the leaves. Symbolically, the fall equinox reminds us to be grateful for the “harvests” in our own lives over the years.  This fall equinox, reflect on the bounty of nature and the possibilities for abundance in every part of your amazing life.

: https://nationaltoday.com/fall-equinox/

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

2025 · Autumn

Beautiful Colors of Autumn (4)

TanjaLeave a comment

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

Autumn Photos with Sara in November 2010

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

2025 · Autumn

Beautiful Colors of Autumn (2)

TanjaLeave a comment

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

Autumn Sweetgum Leaves

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

2025 · Autumn · Our Forest · Our Yard

Our Yard/Forest In Early September (1)

TanjaLeave a comment

🌳🍃🌲🍁🌳🍃🌲🍁🌳🍃🌲🍁🌳🍃🌲🍁🌳🍃🌲🍁🌳🍃🌲🍁🌳🍃🌲🍁🌳🍃🌲🍁🌳🍃🌲🍁

1) Wild Grape; 2) Wood Aster; 3) Staghorn Sumac; 4) Common Pokeweed;
5) Autumn in our Forest; 6) Staghorn Sumac; 7) Goldenrod;
8) Knotweed/Smartweed

🌳🍃🌲🍁🌳🍃🌲🍁🌳🍃🌲🍁🌳🍃🌲🍁🌳🍃🌲🍁🌳🍃🌲🍁🌳🍃🌲🍁🌳🍃🌲🍁🌳🍃🌲🍁

2025 · Autumn

My Scandinavian Autumn Gnomes/Tomte Nisse (1)

TanjaLeave a comment

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

🍂🍁🍂🍁 Happy Autumn! 🍁🍂🍁🍂

Kevin bought me a set of Autumn Tomte Nisse (Scandinavian Gnomes) a few years ago. I was so excited and could barely wait for Autumn. I remembered that I wanted to take some photos with these little guys. Here are the results of the first shooting. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I do. Either way, I had a lot of fun with Sven, Christopher, and Gunnar. Yes, I picked some Swedish names for my gnomes as well.

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

2025 · Autumn

Hello, September 2025!

TanjaLeave a comment

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

September

Indian Summer breezes blow
the geese are taking flight.
A softly glowing harvest Moon
lights up the starry night.
The special warmth and happiness
we feel throughout September.
Will fill our hearts all Winter long
with beauty to remember.

Author: Unknown

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

2025 · Flower Friday

White Oak – State Tree of Connecticut

TanjaLeave a comment

The White Oak (Quercus alba) is one of the preeminent hardwoods of eastern and central North America. It is a long-lived oak, native to eastern and central North America and found from Minnesota, Ontario, Quebec, and southern Maine south as far as northern Florida and eastern Texas. Specimens have been documented to be over 450 years old. Although called a white oak, it is very unusual to find an individual specimen with white bark; the usual color is light grey. The name comes from the color of the finished wood. In the forest, it can reach a magnificent height, and in the open, it develops into a massive broad-topped tree with large branches striking out at wide angles.

Quercus alba is fairly tolerant of a variety of habitats and may be found on ridges, in valleys, and in between, in dry and moist habitats, and in moderately acid and alkaline soils. It is mainly a lowland tree but reaches altitudes of 1,600 m (5,249 ft) in the Appalachian Mountains. It is often a component of the forest canopy in an oak-heath forest. Frequent fires in the Central Plains region of the United States prevented oak forests, including White Oak, from expanding into the Midwest. However, a decrease in the frequency of these natural fires after European settlement caused the rapid expansion of oak forests into the Great Plains, negatively affecting the natural prairie vegetation.

: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_alba

2025 · Autumn · Our Yard

First Signs of Autumn 2025

TanjaLeave a comment

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

It’s mid-August. And it’s beginning to look a bit like Autumn in our yard. Our Birch tree and the Virginia Creeper are always the first to show themselves in crimson and gold dresses. But as we all know, Summer is not over. The days are still warm, while the nights are cooling down enough to open the windows.

🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂🍁

2025 · Flower Friday

Texas Pecan (Carya illinoinensis)

TanjaLeave a comment

The pecan is a member of the Juglandaceae family. Juglandaceae are represented worldwide by seven and ten extant genera and more than 60 species. Most of these species are concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere of the New World, but some can be found on every continent except Antarctica. The first fossil examples of the family appear during the Cretaceous. Differentiation between the subfamilies of Engelhardioideae and Juglandioideae occurred during the early Paleogene, about 64 million years ago. Extant examples of Engelhardioideae are generally tropical and evergreen, while those of Juglandioideae are deciduous and found in more temperate zones.

The second major step in the development of pecan was a change from wind-dispersed fruits to animal dispersion. This dispersal strategy coincides with developing a husk around the fruit and a drastic change in the relative concentrations of fatty acids. The ratio of oleic to linoleic acids is inverted between wind- and animal-dispersed seeds. Further differentiation from other species of Juglandaceae occurred about 44 million years ago during the Eocene. The fruits of the pecan genus Carya differ from those of the walnut genus Juglans only in the formation of the husk of the fruit. The husks of walnuts develop from the bracts, bracteoles, and sepals. The husks of pecans develop from the bracts and the bracteoles only.

: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pecan