I worked in the office today, as opposed to working from home. Then I had lunch with three work friends, including my former—now retired—boss. It was great to finally get together again and get caught up on what’s been going on for the last year and a half. A couple of those who had planned to come couldn’t at the last minute so we’ll need to plan another get together before too long. After work Cathy and I went for a walk in the neighborhood and I took this photo of some early fall color. It’s not really fall yet, but there are hints that it’s on its way.
Tagged With: Leaves
Early Fall Color
Beech Leaves
Cathy, Dorothy, and I went for a walk on the Cabin John Creek trail today, from Bradley Boulevard to River Road (and a little beyond). It was warm today but still very good to be outside. This is a a nice walk and one we haven’t done before. There are some particularly nice areas, including an area thick with mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) and a few scattered wild azaleas. There is some bamboo growing along the trail in places, as well, which is different, even if it isn’t a native thing. The beech trees are starting to leaf out. On many stems the leaves are still tightly rolled and that’s pretty cool. On a few stems, as shown here, the leaves are open and their color is quite remarkable.
Also visible through the trees from the trail is the Robert Llewellyn Wright House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1953 for his sixth child.
Beech Leaves
After visiting Cathy’s mom this afternoon we drove to Woodlawn Manor and walked to Sandy Spring and back. I carried my camera, as I nearly always do, but only took a few photos. It was late in the day, overcast, and fairly dark. Even if I had seen birds, I don’t think there would have been enough light to get a good photo in the woods. I took a few pitures of horses before we went into the woods but they aren’t very good. I considered not posing any picture from today. I’m not bound to post a picture for every day as I was from 2011 through 2020, but I still try to post a picture from the days where I take any. I do make exceptions when the only pictures I take are not for sharing for some reason. But in general, if I took one or more pictures, I’ll post one.
I love beech trees this time of year. Our woods have quite a few American beech (Fagus grandifolia) and of course we also see the European or common beech (Fagus sylvatica) especially in yards, parks, and gardens. Most of the varieties available in nurseries are F. sylvatica. One that I love in the spring is the tri-colour beech, F. sylvatica ‘Roseomarginata’. There is one at Asbury Methodist Village and in the spring it’s a vivid scarlet. Its leaves can’t really take our summer sun, though, so it’s not really an ideal tree for our climate.


