Surprise snowfall and pockets of fall color.
Monday, November 10, 2025
I awoke to discover a light dusting of white powder and shortly thereafter, more snow began to fall. Tiny little flakes at first, then larger fluffy ones, swirling down out of the sky. I don’t know why, but watching the snow just makes me happy.
The contrast of white against the bright yellow leaves that have yet to drop makes for a slightly odd scene. I am enjoying it nonetheless. Quite chilly downstairs in the house (it’s 26°F outside!). It’s as if winter has suddenly descended upon us, and all at once, one season has given way to the next.
Photo Credit: Amy Earls
November 11, 2025
With the cold snap, I was expecting the remaining leaves to fall enmasse, but it wasn’t so immediate. I went for a drive and saw some glorious pops of color along the highway. Pockets of red maple trees finally putting on a show. Although, much of it was tinged with brown. The sky was also overcast or the colors would have been more brilliant. The remaining snow on the ground from Monday melted rapidly and was nearly gone by the end of the day.
While often appreciated for their autumn foliage, maple trees are more than just a pretty face. We all love maple syrup, but did you know that many other parts of maple trees are edible? This includes the seeds, inner bark, and young fresh leaves. Although, its important to note the species. According to Colorado State University, the wilted or dried leaves of Red Maples (Acer rubrum), as well as the bark, is toxic to horses1 and can be fatal if ingested in large amounts. That was surprising!
A Few Facts About Red Maples
- They are listed by the US Forest Service as, “one of the most abundant and widespread trees in eastern North America.”2
- The Red Maple goes by several other names, including Swamp Maple, Water Maple, Scarlet Maple, and Soft Maple.
- The stems, buds, flowers and newly grown twigs of the Red Maple typically show some red coloration (stems) or are entirely red in color (buds, flowers). Hue can range from deep purple to bright red.
- While their sap can be used to make syrup, it contains half the sugar content to that of the Sugar Maple.
- They can live up to approximately 150 years.
- Their leaves commonly have 3 lobes, but can “exhibit considerable variation” and may show up to 5 (which is a bit confusing in regards to identification).
- Red Maple seeds, often referred to as whirligigs or helicopters, are called samaras.
- The largest known Red Maple tree stands in Armada, Michigan and is 125 ft. tall with a circumference of 16 ft. 3 in.3
November 13, 2025
A sunny autumn day. I took advantage of the sunshine and cleaned out the geranium pot by the front steps (that was the extent of my “gardening” this year). The plants were partially killed by the recent snow and weren’t likely to survive much longer. Goodbye pink geranium, we have enjoyed your company.
Dead leaves are pilling up along the sidewalk and the street curb. They form into piles and drifts, giving off that nostalgic fallen leaf scent as you walk through them. My neighbor kindly removes them with a leaf blower, otherwise they clog up the storm drains and make a mess. I pleasantly recall raking fall leaves into an enormous pile for the sole purpose of jumping into it. Such are the joys and luxuries of childhood.
– Joe L. Wheeler
“There is something incredibly nostalgic and significant about the annual cascade of autumn leaves.”
- Colorado State University – https://poisonousplants.cvmbs.colostate.edu/plant/87
Purdue University – https://web.archive.org/web/20070505101113/http://vet.purdue.edu/depts/addl/toxic/plant50.htm ↩︎ - US Forest Service – https://research.fs.usda.gov/silvics/red-maple ↩︎
- Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_rubrum ↩︎