Sweetgum ready for its close-up
A few colorful leaves stayed on, and warm days lingered; a long-lasting autumn actually isn’t unusual at our southeastern US latitude. We had all the outdoor decorations we needed. The forest would not let me go, the treetops kept me zooming.
Swirling
Spot the seedpod
The sweetgum fruits remained high on the trees; most are still up there as of early January. In the “Heartbreak Light” post they were greenish but they are now a ripe ruddy brown. Sweetgum generally isn’t a popular tree, but ours have been lighting up the place over the last few months. The green in the background is pine.
Bud is a skilled supervisor and editor
Bud the editing cat wants his byline moved towards the top of the post. Here he supervises the sending of Christmas greetings. He has a beef because another cat appears on one of the cards. “Meow, that’s NOT me. Meow.”
Sunny day in the canopy
Pine cones came on strong this year! After perusing nature guides and Internet sources, I think this is Longleaf Pine. But LOL, pine identities can be perplexing, so don’t hold me to that!
About 50 feet up
The sky – a detail
Trees are close together.
In a gold light
Sweetgum spheres still up there.
Abundance
Blue invaded by wispy clouds
Partly cloudy changes everything about the light!
Darkening and softening
Forever green
Bright sun highlights red leaves
In January, leaves are now gone, pods are – still clinging to the upper story! I actually found one on the ground yesterday. Pine cones are staying attached to pinetops. Birds and squirrels are partaking of them. I found one pine cone on the path that looked to be chewed up.
Beyond the branches
I can imagine stepping onto the branches, if I was small enough. I love the density, the thicketness, the branch criss-crossings so tricky to sort, the complicated visual feast. I don’t know if the pictures appeal, or if it’s only my fancy, I just know the sights grab my glance and I’m lost, staring and searching, every time.
Moulting in style
Flashy ending #1
Adrift in blue, with a light wind
Flashy ending #2
Leaves will crinkle and fall
Well then, flashy ending #3
Leaves take their leave, eventually
OK flashy ending #4
Beguiling autumn
Stop …
Reds look redder when the sun is brighter
I can’t …
The creek pictures would have made this post too long so there will be a second December post, coming soon. Then I do have to get back to the book …
.
I live near a creek in a forest, in close observation and awe of the wildlife outside, as well as the domestic animals of the household. I'm writer Leah T. Alford. I was "catwoods" on this site Catwoods Porch Party, Itchmo Forums for Cats and Dogs, and a few other sites that may or may not exist now. I have now published a book, and the publisher wanted it called Catwoods. I never expected the book title to be the same as my username, so for now I've changed the username to Leah. For more info, click the "About" button above.
Catwoods Porch Party 
oh, the colors! love them..beautifully captured.
Thank you, zennfish, I’m happy you enjoyed the photos!
I like your photos of the pinecones up in the trees. Never thought to photograph that. Ditto for the sweet gum spheres. I never seem to notice them until they are on the ground.
Glad you enjoyed the pictures! This is the first year I thought to look so far up into the trees and try to get pictures of the pinecones and sweetgum fruit. Now I wonder why I never thought of it before. It took the sweetgum spheres forever to fall this year – now they’re all over the ground, more than I’ve ever seen. Most of the pinecones are still up there.
Sweetgum? Oh, I never knew the name, I thought it was that-stupid-round-poking-thing-that-hurts-so-bad-when-you-step-on-it!
Hahaha, that name totally works!I know it’s not funny to step on one, though!
Ah, so these are sweetgum spheres? I kept wondering what they were. The nearest equivalent in Scotland are teasles and I don’t know where they come from. I did hear a local Texan say that the sweetgum spheres were the bane of his barefoot childhood. Ouch!
They are sweetgum, but calling them ‘spheres’ is just something I do. I think they may commonly be called ‘sweetgum balls’. I’ve heard of people stepping on them and actually getting hurt, and most people don’t even like the tree or its litter on the ground. Everything about the the sweetgum tree fascinates me, but the fruit is a bit hazardous when it falls where people walk.
I love all trees especially sweetgum and am fascinated by the teasles, as I call them. My grandmother used them to tease wool on them.
Fantastic! Very good to know to know this use of the sweetgum tree! Next time I run across someone who doesn’t like the tree, I might mention this.
These pictures are so beautiful. Especially now, being in New England with the eternal white sky.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Mary! I’m happy if the pictures help people get through winter; I’m not fond of winter myself, and working with the autumn pics always helps me. Although it’s rare, today we had a wintry mix for awhile; sleet is coming down tonight, and we’re headed towards a sub-freezing low. I know it’s nothing compared to what other regions are getting today, so I hope everyone stays safe and warm!
This is why I do not send out cards with images of other cats… as you know, felines can be very egotistical!
LOL! They certainly are!
Just beautiful!
Thank you Emma, glad you liked the pictures! I enjoyed visiting your blog!
Likewise!
Great shots! I also love the “upward gaze” often blocking pathways as I stand transfixed at some sky/tree scope.
Thank you for your kind words, Claire! I agree with what you say, I can get so totally lost viewing trees!
Thanks for your latest, like, on Elm Drive Images.
You’re welcome!
great photos. nice to see those autumnal colors now that trees are bare here (upstate NY), although with scant snowfall this year (so far), I can see green on the ground here.
Thank you so much, abbylynn, I’m happy you enjoyed the pictures! I’m looking back on the colors now too, since the leaves have now all fallen. We still have traces of wintry green around, too. Strangely, they’re even talking possible snow for us later next week!
Wonderful colors and textures. I appreciate your appreciation for the trees. You take the time to truly see them– and what marvelous variety and numbers!.
Thank you so much Cate, I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures! I am enjoying your posts, too!
Brilliantly done shots! I love all of them!😺
Thank you Shrimp! So glad you enjoyed the photos. I’m enjoying your posts every day!
I really did enjoy them!! And I’m so thrilled that you like my posts! Have a Pawsome day!
You too, Shrimp! 🙂
Pawsome! Thank you!
Ah, I so love looking at your gorgeous photographs, Leah — and I also enjoy reading your poetic descriptions of them as well. I just love trees — they’re so regal, so utterly perfect, nature’s perfection. I could look at them all day, and I don’t blame you one bit for taking many photos of them (I do too!). And Bud … What an adorable, handsome fellow he is! Wishing you all the best on the completion of your book — woohoo when it’s done, right? Have a wonderful weekend (and thank you again for that info on feline renal failure)!!!
Thank you so much, Deb, it means a lot to have your support! I love trees too, but strangely, this is the first autumn I spent tons of time looking up at the treetops for photos. Thanks also for the good wishes on the book, I need them, LOL! Bud, the unassuming, uh, I mean egotistical cat, thanks you too as he just loves to hear his praises! You’re welcome about the info, I’m just glad to be of help if I can.
You’re most welcome! Keep looking at those trees because you see them through the lens very creatively. 🙂 And keep working on your book … It’ll soon be done and that will be a great accomplishment. And tell Bud he can help with the editing if he wants. 🙂
🙂 Many thanks!
Bravo! So glad you’re back to prowling and capturing the beauties of the Catwoods.
Thank you, I appreciate the encouraging words! I had/have a backlog of pictures but not much time to post.