Backroads of Morrow County Update:
Fall is here--cool, colorful, and changed. The trees along the highways and byways are gorgeous. Oranges and reds everywhere--some yellows and maroons as well. And with the rains and wind a storm of leaves caught up in swirling tornadoes of color as I drive by. And, of course, the greens have settled in to being the stars of winter waiting for their coats of white.
The change as always is in the vistas. Almost all of the soy beans have been harvested. They leave fields that look as if nothing was ever there. You can see the hills, the dips, the faraway houses and barns that have been in hiding all summer. It's picture postcard time. Farmers have started on the corn as well. Row by row leaving behind a meadow of stalks and on the backroads husks fleeing for safety from the hungry green monsters? Many fields have been plowed already--more than I remember from past excursions in the fall of Morrow County. One or two even have something coming up, long green parallel lines stretching across the panorama. Is it some strategy to prepare for next spring if it happens to be as wet as this spring? I have no idea.
Not much in the way of wildlife along the roads. I've seen a few deer feeding. They give me a wary eye and go back to dinner. Some have simply crossed my path and into the woods. And even though the woods are "thinned" out, they seem to disappear into thin air themselves once they've reached the edge of sanctuary. Some flocks of blackbirds and starlings litter the fields. They seem to have a fondness for spending time with the cows. And the domesticated beasts of Morrow County seem unaware of fall's coming--except for the bundles of hay that have already been set out for their snack times. One huge black Angus escaped from somewhere and was meandering aimlessly down County Road 20. No one would want to run into that monster--huge and fearless. He claimed the road for his own.
When I swing back into the driveway leading up to the cave, there are still some flowers hanging on. Still some brilliant purple blue monkshood, Still some annuals--the marigolds stand out. Still some phlox. And the birds are active at The Acres feeding stations. And the calico feline beauty is stalking out the place though I thing she likes the peanuts more than the birds. Anyway, the backroads are bright and lovely, and the last "road" leads home. And I have promises to keep.
The change as always is in the vistas. Almost all of the soy beans have been harvested. They leave fields that look as if nothing was ever there. You can see the hills, the dips, the faraway houses and barns that have been in hiding all summer. It's picture postcard time. Farmers have started on the corn as well. Row by row leaving behind a meadow of stalks and on the backroads husks fleeing for safety from the hungry green monsters? Many fields have been plowed already--more than I remember from past excursions in the fall of Morrow County. One or two even have something coming up, long green parallel lines stretching across the panorama. Is it some strategy to prepare for next spring if it happens to be as wet as this spring? I have no idea.
Not much in the way of wildlife along the roads. I've seen a few deer feeding. They give me a wary eye and go back to dinner. Some have simply crossed my path and into the woods. And even though the woods are "thinned" out, they seem to disappear into thin air themselves once they've reached the edge of sanctuary. Some flocks of blackbirds and starlings litter the fields. They seem to have a fondness for spending time with the cows. And the domesticated beasts of Morrow County seem unaware of fall's coming--except for the bundles of hay that have already been set out for their snack times. One huge black Angus escaped from somewhere and was meandering aimlessly down County Road 20. No one would want to run into that monster--huge and fearless. He claimed the road for his own.
When I swing back into the driveway leading up to the cave, there are still some flowers hanging on. Still some brilliant purple blue monkshood, Still some annuals--the marigolds stand out. Still some phlox. And the birds are active at The Acres feeding stations. And the calico feline beauty is stalking out the place though I thing she likes the peanuts more than the birds. Anyway, the backroads are bright and lovely, and the last "road" leads home. And I have promises to keep.
