More difficult to appreciate is the gray chill and fog that cocoons Ashland, generally descending the first of November like a curtain drawn around the town. Except for this year. By the grace of nature, we’ve enjoyed a spectacular November of cool but not freezing temperatures, leaving the colorful leaves on the trees for longer than usual. There’s been plenty of sunshine, too, instead of the typical cold November fog.
Ashland, Oregon
Lithia Park in downtown Ashland
Halloween in Lithia Park
There are abundant opportunities for hiking in and around Ashland, and we’ve been getting out every day to hike and enjoy the foliage. I lived for 10 years in New England, the epicenter of fall foliage. But honestly, I think Ashland rivals New England for autumn glory.
In the Japanese Garden
Pathway through the vibrant leaves
Enjoying Lithia Park
A spiral offering in the park
Palette of autumn leaves
Floating autumn leaves
We’ll be here until just after the first of January, and then taking off for warmer and sunnier climes for a couple of months. I found this poem by Mary Oliver, our favorite poet. Somehow it makes it easier to accept that all of those beautiful leaves are now on the ground.
Lines Written in the Days of Growing Darkness
Every year we have been
witness to it: how the
world descendsinto a rich mash, in order that
it may resume.
And therefore
who would cry outto the petals on the ground
to stay,
knowing, as we must,
how the vivacity of what was is marriedto the vitality of what will be?
I don’t say
it’s easy, but
what else will doif the love one claims to have for the world
be true?So let us go on, cheerfully enough,
this and every crisping day,though the sun be swinging east,
and the ponds be cold and black,
and the sweets of the year be doomed.~Mary Oliver
Colorful madrone bark
Country walks
Our view at sunrise
Absolutely beautiful fall colors that you captured splendidly. So where will you head for a couple of winter months?
Thanks, Ingrid. :-) We’ll be heading down the California coast, then across to Joshua Tree, and on to Tucson. Maybe Bisbee again. At the end of February we’ll be in Anza Borrego. I’m thinking you might be in Arizona in February. Would be fun to meet up with you!
Spectacular photos! I am so glad I got to see some of your brilliant fall colors last year, Ashland is wonderful at this most lovely time of year. Ms.Oliver sure knows how to put life into words.
Ashland is especially beautiful in the fall — so glad you’ve experienced it, Lisa. I agree, Mary Oliver has a special way of being able to capture the essence of life.
What lovely colors you have captured. A beautiful place to spend time. Enjoy your time there.
Thanks, Jo. Hope you and Fred can meet us sometime in Ashland!
Absolutely gorgeous fall photos. Not sure which I like best but I do like the leaves with the water. With all those colors who wouldn’t want to be outside hiking!
Sounds like we may be able to meet up this winter after reading your thoughts to Ingrid. We will be heading to Tucson and Bisbee in Feb. Of course, as is our usual way, we don’t have any definite plans or reservation after Jan 22. You’ll have to let us know if you see we are near each other from our blog. John usually has it pretty up to date with where we are.
Pam, we would love to meet up with you and John in Arizona! It would be so much fun to hike and explore with you two. I’d better get busy training so that we can keep up. :-)
You will be able to keep up without a problem. We are not fast hikers. I am always stopping to take photos and just look around. We take rests if we need to and go at our own pace.
Oh good. ;-) Glad to hear that photo breaks are part of the hiking package. That’s our kind of hiking! We’re looking forward to meeting up with you guys.
That header picture is an award winner. You MUST submit that to Audubon or Sierra Club for their calendar. That is just amazingly gorgeous. You’ve out done yourself there. In fact there are a number of pictures in this group that really are outstanding. I had no idea Oregon had such fall color. Did you make the spiral of leaves? I love it. I think this is a perfect blog post. It ends with my favorite poet too. I have every book she’s ever published and went to Provincetown just to be able to walk on a section of a beach where she walked on another section. Isn’t that sick? I only dream about writing such a fabulous post as this. Should I start a fan club for you two??
I wish I had made the spiral of leaves, Sherry. But I was happy to find it! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. :-) Mary Oliver is our favorite poet, as well. We also have all of her books and I’m hoping someday that I’ll be lucky enough to see her in person. Her work is a gift to the world.
Isn’t fall simply gorgeous? We have had vibrant colors here in Georgia as well. Ashland looks very inviting.
Ashland is a beautiful place, Loretta — and now that you guys are getting ready to go full-time, it would be fun to show you our hometown! We would love for you to show us around Alabama, as well.
Thank you for a most beautiful post. The colors are absolutely stunning! We Michiganders think ours are hard to top, but WOW!
Also, thank you for sharing the perfect poem. We recently decided to listen to the message of the Universe, and cancel Cedar Key so that we can get our house purge and sale done, once and for all. The poem sums it up perfectly for our decision.
Hope our paths cross someday, once our down-size is complete.
Oh Karen, how exciting! Wishing you all the best in your house purge and sale. I’m sure our paths will cross, and we can celebrate! I’m so glad the poem spoke to you — Mary Oliver’s words always bring me peace.