Waiting, Impatiently
Will a wet summer mean a burst of color
for Ozark hills familiar with drab autumns?
Clouds more frequent, but blue skies,
still, in these shorter days of lower sun.
The sycamores seem to measure
the light, their yellow the first to show.
Without a frost to say otherwise, green
clings to maple, oak, and hickory.
No monarchs in sight as the milkweed
goes to seed, but the season will not be rushed.
Back in Buffalo, I’d be taking photos of peak fall foliage around Columbus Day. A week later could be too late, with colors fading. There’s nothing here yet, in Missouri, but our first frost of the season is in this weekend’s forecast. Fingers crossed.
Images (top to bottom)
Sycamore starting to change on Moreau River (04 Oct 2019)
Milkweed, bank-side of pond in Runge Conservation Center (09 Oct 2019)
Common buckeye feeding on aster at Runge (09 Oct 2019)
(click each for larger view in new tab)
rivrvlogr 
Season changing.
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Bit by bit.
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I love the autumn foliage but the spring and autumn are only teasing seasons to southern CA. I love the distinct seasons in Oregon where I visit often.
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Autumn is my favorite.
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It’s my favorite also.
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Beginning to wonder if summer 2019 will finish up before summer 2020 gets here … on a bright note, our mist flowers are about to burst into bloom, so “head on down, monarchs!”
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I hope you get your colors. We have some yellow and lots of acorns.
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Maybe the frost we’re expecting will do the trick.
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A beautiful poem, Ken. I hope you get an autumn display. Ours is always very colourful.
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Here’s hoping. Thanks, Robbie.
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