It’s rainy and windy and in the mid-40s today. I’m caught up with most of my inside chores and (fortunately) have no pressing outside ones, so I’m finally posting again. It’s been a busy month—visits from family and friends, passing remnants of Hurricanes Michael and Willa (today’s rain), and house and garden chores to prepare for the changing seasons. (My house is full of plants.) Here’s a video of how the river has changed: French Broad River
Fall has brought changes in the Hollow and and in what I see on my rambles, as well. It’s been 10 days since I last saw a hummingbird, although I still see butterflies. This Question Mark was busy on my garden wall (video). I found a Monarch chrysalis on my garbage can, but it didn’t make it.
The prolonged warm weather delayed “leaf” season, and the colors aren’t as vivid as in other years. The sourwoods and dogwoods were the first to turn, and some of the maples and oaks are now showing color.
I often see turkeys on my rambles, but they usually run before I can get close enough for a good photo. You can see them in this video. I’ve been seeing deer more often, too. There are fewer leaves on the undergrowth, and I think the deer are moving around, trying to find a good place for the winter. As you can see in the last photo, sometimes they run when they see me coming! 🙂
The deer and turkeys continue to come feed in the field, although the compositions of the groups have changed. Another buck showed up a couple of times a few weeks ago, and I haven’t seen the little buck V-Boy for over a week. Some of this year’s fawns have been coming at feeding time, and one doe often waits for me near the yard and even watches me patiently if I’m working outside. You can see feeding time (before V-Boy disappeared) here and one of the fawns running laps here. (I tried to edit this several times but have yet to figure it out.)
At least a couple of flocks of turkeys come around—one is made up on toms, and the other has LOTS of what I think are this year’s poults. This video shows them marching down to the field.
Autumn has arrived at the field on the other side of the ridge, too. You can see here. It’s stopped raining, and I’m finished for this post.
French Broad Hollow Ramble 