This fall I have been captivated by the pattern of yellow and orange leaves against the beautiful grey-violets and grey-greens of the trees. I went for a walk in a "secret" valley near my house. It has a little stream running through it and the way the dead grass lays over the dead tree trunks and the solid carpet of leaves gives the place a haunting feeling especially at dusk. I was enthralled by the mystery and quietness of the place when a flock of chickadees came bustling through the tree tops. The little birds added the perfect counter balance to the stillness of the valley. As their sounds disappeared in the distance the quiet returned with only the slight creaking of trees and the gentle whispering of the leaves.
I made some quick studies of trees on my property concentrating on the anatomy and the individuality of the branches.
