Snow is in the offing later in the week. One forecast looks for 1-3 inches, but then temperatures will drop for highs only in the low 30s. We have all enjoyed the late season warmth. It will be tough to take.
Some Geese remain on the lake. I thought I saw two swans yesterday, but they may have been distant geese showing their butts.
The weather is holding just fine for almost everyone, I suspect. Temperatures edged into the 50s with a really bright Sun holding court nearly all the day. The wind held court, too, but did not seem to ruin the warmth of the day, of course that is given what a day in November in Northern Minnesota is normally like.
The leaf fall is done. The only thing leaves are doing is that last blowing around for those not yet secured in their winter places, and an odd branch that never understood the signals of the summer storms to fall down, is now finding its way down. Not really many of them to enjoy the fall to the ground.
Watch out in southern Minnesota and below! The geese seem to be heading out. Honking was not a big thing today. That means they are coming your way. And can they poop! Many hope they stay away, or on someone else’s area as they can decorate with aplomb. They are a wonder to watch and fascinating to listen to, but have the washer ready for the dock.
On the other hand this means winter is upon us. We have had super nice days all week and outside is the place to be. But the temperatures were in the 60s, then 50s, and now less is coming. No snow near here at all, but rumors suggest something is coming just beyond the 10-Day Forecast.
Winterization is totally complete except for one more check of the garage door insulation. Even the workhorse of the summer—the chainsaw—sawed its last stump piece off and has been carefully cleaned. It shall winter in the garage at a nice 46 degrees.
The leaves are majorly past prime at this time. Many trees are empty. The oaks maintain a nice percentage of their purple toned leaves through the winter, so bare forest is not dominant here, yet. Of course the pines stay covered, and those late season brown needles are on the ground leaving a nice green set behind. The tamaracks are yellow, but still holding those needles. They are actually at the peak of color or getting just past.
The geese are in full gathering mode. The honking is getting louder down at the lake. They honk to attract other geese flying by forming bigger groups for the sudden decision to head out.
Docks and boats are moving to land. A few remain, but most of this is way beyond summer peak.
I have not noticed much fireplace odor yet this fall. With the summer storms plentiful, timber has been easy to find and get ready. Mostly it has been just outside the window. Nights have been fortyish some, but only limited below freezing temperatures. Frost killed then held back mostly.
There are still beautiful tree color combinations to be enjoyed. Just down the road is one, but that is only for small groups of mixed color trees now.
We went to Itasca State Park today/ The weather looked super but turned cloudy, in line with most recent days. The leaves were just glorious any way. While those special odd purples and pinks were gone, and the northeast corner was pretty bare, many sections showed bright yellows and oranges mixed with longer stretches of pure yellow. Even the tamaracks were in full yellow needle.
Mixing in was the very obvious, widespread damage from the mid-summer Great Wind of 2016 (reference in humor to Vicar of Dilby scene). Trees were sawed off where they had blocked the road, but many then just sat piled on each other, left alone for a couple month period. Some were average,m but others were among the bigger, older trees of the preserved park. One has to assume that the Park’s policy is for the forest to remain in its natural state of forest recycling, or, financially and in terms of personnel the Park does not have the staff to take the massive amount of trees away. More will go as select trees still threaten to fall over the roadways, especially the Wilderness Drive.
We did note some twisted wood indicative of spinning winds. Most accounts and a look at the radar that night suggested straight line winds. The single direction fall of the down trees was notable.
Still the trees were wonderful.
This latest tree to fall is a puzzle, but likely damaged in the earlier two storms only to fall by the slightest of breezes Sunday morning. It was a +/- 75 foot aspen/poplar (15 inches across near the base). There was no storm or meaningful wind, but over it went. It took 4 newer 2 inch across trees when it fell.
The debris will require a third trailer rental to haul to the transfer station. We notice our tree skills have gotten a lot better. Me with the chainsaw is hitting those trees at angles I never did before. Sue i just picking up log pieces of amazing size.
It was another root ball type fall. Since it is in the woods the root ball stays.
I never thought I would retire teaching to become a lumberjack. But…that seems the case. We have had two major storms with minor event between and the total seems to be 20 trees down. Four of them were in the 75-100 foot range and likely 125 years old. The four were all poplars, which local tree service people hate. The winds were likely around 70 mph (105 mph 10 miles to the South). They went down with root balls. The roots are just not all that massive unless you have to cut at them to reduce the ball down.
Other people had it worse. Going to the county brush pile we met a bunch of nice people, all of us in the same boat, more or less. We are nearing a state of acceptability in maintaining the trees, but some people may not be there for a long time. It would be weeks before the tree service folk can even get to you if you use them. We do it ourselves if we can. All were in the do it yourself category. Those that hang in the air are the ones we do not do.
The rain has also set the ants in a wild phase. They seem to be giving the word “antsy” new enhanced meaning. They are just going everywhere and in large amounts.
Root ball trees are easier to cut up. You just start at the top and cut the short chunks. Trouble is that that root ball takes a couple days by itself. Of course nothing is likely to fall on you doing it.
For some, of course, firewood for winter is near free for the asking right now. Folks are stocking up.
