Majority of Leaves are on the Ground, but Surprising Number Remain Hanging

This was an amazingly wet and cool summer which extended itself well into the fall. I used to think that exceptionally hot, dry summers were rough on leaves and so they began to fall early and were basically down by mid October. Actually, of the last number of years, I haven't been much aware of any pattern of weather being responsible for the rate of leaves falling. 

Even though we are now past Thanksgiving, it is clear, at least half way up the Lake Basin hill, that an unusual amount of leaves remain on some of the trees. I have really been enjoying this fall because I enjoy trees with leaves to a great extent. When I used to plant trees, I quite often asked for "that type of Oak that doesn't lose its leaves in winter." Granted, they turn grey, but still they keep more of their character than those trees that "allow" themselves to become barren sticks.

Already I am looking forward to the dawn of Spring when the first signs of green return. I never thought of green as being my favorite color, but when it comes to the green of God's great outdoors, green is indeed one of my favorite colors, followed almost immediately by the multi-colored spring flowers--especially Daffodil, Tulip, Hyacinth and Lilac. I guess that's why I like December so much, I get to have a green tree right in my living room where I can enjoy it for so many hours a day, barely worrying about a dropped needle or leaf.