Fall Color 2009

Sumac seems to always turn first and turns such a beautiful red. This was also taken at Maplewood State Park. Have a blessed day!

Another view of fall color! Have a blessed day.

Have a blessed day!

A lot more color since last Saturday. See last weeks photo in gallery. However, it's still not peak color. We should get there in another week or so. Have a blessed day!

Subtle changes in fall color. What a gorgeous day to be out on the lake. Best seen XLarge. Have a blessed day!

My favorite from yesterday. Color change is slower than expected. Sumac is spectacular but there is still a lot of green. Have a blessed day!

Leaving shortly for a trip to Maplewood State Park. We'll see how the fall color has progressed. Have a blessed day!

Fall color - changes are subtle but winter is coming. Some of the maples have started to turn and sumac provides the red color. Peak color is at least a week away. There is an alternate shot in gallery. Have a blessed day!

An amazing view! This was a day of surprises. The first of which was fall color and snow. On the right side, about half way up the photo, you'll see a tree laying across the road. A beaver had recently felled it. See the close up in gallery. Have a blessed day!

The incredible beauty of God's creation. Have a blessed day!

Fall color with an added color! This is a photo you've already seen with the addition of about an inch of snow. It's not common to have snow this early. However, the lake region around Maplewood State Park, MN and Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge were blanketed with it. It probably won't last long and perhaps I'll have one more shot at fall color photos. Maples are pretty much at peak color. Oaks and aspen are still green. I got a bunch great shots yesterday so I'll be sharing them with you soon. Have a blessed day!

This is the same reflection scene I did about a week ago. Sure wish I'd had some decent light to work with. Have a blessed day!

Fresh snow early in the season is always beautiful and exciting. However, in Feb, at 30 below and 4 months of weather extremes, it somehow gets really old! Have a blessed day!

Fattening up for the winter months ahead. The trumpeter swans are feasting on all the wild rice which grows along the shores of this lake. Have a blessed day!

Have a blessed day!

Light snow and icy roads make a trip to the ditch a possibility. Why was I out? Oh, to what lengths I go for the Smugmug Dailies! LOL Best viewed XLarge. Have a blessed day!

Weather extremes! Docks must come out of the water before winter. Otherwise, the ice flow will destroy them in the spring. It won't be long and there will be 2-3' of snow on these lakes. With enough ice, we can venture out with vehicles when we go ice fishing. Be blesed!

What a lovely scene. Too bad it was overcast! Best viewed XLarge! Have a blessed day!

have a blessed day!

Same lake from yesterday only a view to the north. Have a blessed day!

A favorite place.... Have a blessed day!

Fall - a season of transition. Have a blessed day!

Have a blessed day!

An unusual tree - This conifer, only turns golden yellow in the fall before it drops its needles. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamarack_Larch Here's a link to what they look like up close and in bloom - http://michaelsullivan.smugmug.com/Flowers/Wildflowers/Wildflowers/2973499_7FMsf#218171452_W329N Have a blessed day!

A trail ride on a lovely fall day! I had to laugh at myself when I opened this up in Photoshop Elements. I was so busy trying to compose a decent shot that I missed the brown stalk goes straight up the middle. And of course, I only shot one! Note to self - "Self, do not do this again!" ;-) Have a blessed day!

I've posted three different comps of this shot. I prefer this one but I'll let you judge. By the way, the clouds certainly helped in this shot! Thanks for all the comments on yesterday's eagles. A Canon 500 f/4 with a 1.4 extender would certainly help on long shots. However, $5500 isn't in the budget right now! Have a blessed day

Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge - the prairie of MN at its' finest. Have a blessed day. Today is 234th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Semper Fi.

Me thinks I need a circular polarizer and should really figure out how to do HDR! Have a blessed day!