One of the best moments of my day is that brisk, early morning walk with Lola. The world is quiet, the lingering scent of a wood fire greets us with the sun. We trot along, she likes to trot, I like to stroll, but we trot and the new-fallen leaves crinkle under our footsteps. She stops often to sniff something, to gather up downed sticks and branches while I admire the large colony of black squirrels that have moved into our little woodland.
With each rain storm or wind gust more and more leaves give it up for the year. They have finished their life cycle, now they populate the earth to enrich the soil for the next growing season. Clearing these leaves is a major undertaking. And they must be cleared to avoid the Winter Snow Mold that has more than once devastated our grassy areas. This year we will need help.
Nature is not always kind as most of us know. If you live in a storm belt, North or South, you likely a story or two to share about how weather has affected your life. This photo shows how a non-native virus, carried by a beetle of some sort from China, has destroyed all of our Spruce trees, 13 of them. It is tragic, this one, a Blue Spruce, was our most beautiful. About 70 feet tall, it is decimated. We are hopeful that our arborist can remove them before Winter but I am not sure.
My little girl, Lola. She is ready to go, always ready to go!
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