View From Above

I went out to see the Autumn colours yesterday.  I started at Beamer Park up on the escarpment.  The park is an example of a preserved Carolinian forest here in Ontario, and has excellent views out across the region.  The view in this picture is towards Niagara Falls, and one can see its high rises. The winds have been blowing the colours off the trees so there isn't the show that one might like for photographs.  And as the winds blew and blew, a storm blew in. The last picture is at Locust Lane, where the Hidden Bench barn is located, and looks out over the Lake. While the Lake is in this picture, there's no Toronto floating on the horizon today. Dezi and I arrived home just in time for the rain to start.

Niagara's Snow Blossom Trail

Yesterday's snow day in Niagara was spectacular.  The trees on the escarpment were completely covered in snow, revealing magical patterns and structures.  It was a warm day here with little wind, so the snow stayed in these lovely patterns all through the morning. 

This orchard is at the top of the escarpment on the Road to Beamer Park.  It's the Hawk Park where the annual hawk migration count takes place. From Beamer one can easily see all across Lake Ontario with Toronto the central jewel.  

You will likely see these trees again.  This is the first time I saw them - they have a bonsai sensibility.  There's the big thick trunk of an old tree.  THen, the shape is a perfect fan with branches evenly spaced and fanning out with great symmetry.  They reveal themselves  as orchard trees - with the little branches sticking straight up.  These 'whips' will likely be gone before winter is finished.

WIth the snow caught in the branches, the structures became clearly defined.  I thought they had the appearance of snow blossoms, so I did a pink version.  I guess this would be the winter blossom trail.