An 'official' tree-hug this afternoon with a great mother tree.

Strong and loving.

Generous and freely herself.  Welcome a tree into your life.  💚 Peace

A fine maple with a lot of personality.

And a delicate little bonnet almost hidden.  Be in awe of nature's ever present beauty. 💚 Peace

A sweet tree-face got may attention on today's walk.

Part of a magnificent black-birch giant.

Also home to a pretty tree-lady.

Nearby a mushroom moon-man.

And a gathering of bright yellow.  A friendly home and family awaits us in nature. 💚 Peace

Fall color coming to the oak-family.

And down-the-road a large upright toadstool growing on an unusual bent-trunk tree.  Find your balance within change. 💚 Peace

A somber shadow-face appeared on the smooth barked hornbeam.

Its muscular limbs stretch outward.

And the last petals-of-blue called for my attention.  Savor the time.  Every moment is precious. 💚 Peace

The tree-gargoyle reminding us to listen to autumn's songs. 

And to witness nature's grand fleeting-palette of color. There is no end to the wonder-land around us. 💚 Peace

Some special sights from a few days ago.  A classic oak-beauty.

Autumn wildflower-triplets.

A hidden gem in the leaves.

And NOT a leaf on a leaf on a leaf.  Enjoy the magic and beauty of the season. 💚 Peace

Tall oaks.

More acorns.

Exotic pink-fungi tubules.

A flamboyant-red mushroom.  Find joy in being yourself.  💚 Peace

I took this picture of the Northern tooth fungus in August.

Walking by today I saw that the fungus was not on the tree.

It had fallen to the ground below.  

Nearby a graying wildflower was going to seed.  To everything there is a season.  💚 Peace

The trail was covered with acorns this morning.  A bit like walking on ball bearings.

As expected I found an oak tree.  Actually a family of oaks living on both side of the trail.

I love the deeply furrowed bark of the chestnut oak.  

And nearby I caught sight of a half moon-face hive hanging in a tree, way high up.  Enjoy the peace of nature.  It is there to soothe our souls. 💚 Peace 

Pouring rain and a thunderclap have a way of quickening your step into a run back to the car.  Appreciate being warm, dry and safe. 💚 Peace

Learning to identify trees takes patience. The ground under this intricately barked tree in our backyard is covered with hickory nuts. If I could see the leaves it would help, but this is a very tall tree and the crown is obscured by the shorter trees.  I'll have to wait until the leaves fall to determine if it is a bitternut or pignut.

Meanwhile, a bright and cheery gazania from the garden.  Patience. Find the beauty in the moment. 💚Peace

I met a very unusual tree outside the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College yesterday.  It is a Ginkgo bilboa or Maidenhair tree.  Originally from China. ​ It has a lovely butterfly-leaf.  I got to see some trees inside, too. 💚 Peace 

From: Rocks and Pines, ca.1863/64, Worthington Whittredge, American, 1820-1910.

From: Beeches and Ferns by Jervis McEntee, American, 1828-1891

I came upon a sensitive beech tree-spirit on yesterday's walk.

With a Venus symbol-eye.

And a light-painted leaf-shadow angel.  Love and light are all around us.  💚 Peace

Looking up this double-trunked black-walnut beauty danced in the perfect autumn sky.

While on the road there was a message of caution.  Don't linger too long admiring this one. ​

This not-so-little guy seems to be smiling.  Step out into nature and appreciate the miracles above, below and all around you. 💚 Peace

Two lovely-barked trees living side-by-side.  

And nearby on the trail a little mushroom caught my eye with its big smile.  When I was taking the picture I noticed he was actually in conversation with an autumn leaf that had fallen beside him.  Stay connected.  Enjoy the company of those near you.  💚 Peace

One of the things I've learned from my time getting to know the trees is that their bark changes at different stages of their life. There is a lot to learn if you want to be able to identify them when there are no leaves on the trees ... half the year.  Or if the leaves are too high to see.

Nature truly offers endless examples of diversity. 

And then there is Ulysses who took quite a pose when we came home from our walk. 💚 Peace

Another member of the birch-family to begin Autumn  The handsome gray birch.  Enjoy the lovely weather.  💚 Peace

I went a little off the trail today so I could show you another type of birch tree.  This is a paper birch (also called white birch).

Some birds use the bark strips for their nests. Thin layers were once used for writing paper.  ​

Back home in the garden a dainty white dahlia with a golden-glowing center.  Appreciate deeply the natural world.  It is at the center of every one of us. 💚 Peace

The weather was beautiful this afternoon. We made a spur-of-the-moment decision to pop down for a walk by the river in Poughkeepsie.

I got to see a new tree - a river birch.

It's similar to the yellow birch and paper birch.  But very unique in its own way.

View of the Walkway over the Hudson through the trees..

View of the elevator that takes you up to the Walkway.

Looking up from under the elevator tower.

Looking south from the top.  We've walked and biked the Walkway many times but this was our first time on the elevator. The view going up was spectacular as were the views in every direction walking across. Welcome the unexpected adventures.  Savor the moments. 💚 Peace​

I stopped to visit a yellow birch today.  Such a cool tree.  

I'm getting flashbacks of go-go dancers from the '60s with their fringed dresses.

Can't leave out this friendly little robot bark-being that popped out to say hi.  Be cool. Check out the trees!  💚 Peace

Usually I avoid this section of one of the trails but I was curious to see how things looked today. 

Back on the road a tall tree-friend caught my eye.

And gave me a cute and reassuring tree-smile.

Driving home a family of turkeys was out on their own expedition crossing the road.

Finding your path sometimes is making one that's right for you. 💚 Peace

The talk in the woods this afternoon was about how bad the mosquitoes were.  

And from a few days ago.  Yawning-tree is now resting on the ground.  Still magnificent.

As one cycle ends a new one begins.  💚 Peace

I love this great red maple that stands at the intersection of two trails.  

Natures dedicated tree-guide there to help the trail-explorer orient herself.

Along with a friendly fun nod from Cousin Itt.

On the way home I turned the car around to get this picture of our heron-friend.  Perhaps spotting a soon to be caught frog-lunch.  Nature's marvels abound around us.  As you can keep exploring what is simply present. 💚 Peace

No walk today as I needed to catch up on my gardening.  These beauties are still flowering and attracting many bees.  It is a beautiful time of the year. Enjoy! 💚 Peace