First A Trickle

Just a couple of days ago I was watching the slow trickle of yellowed leaves of the big black walnut tree gently flutter to the ground. But that was before our series of systems that were dubbed Atmospheric Rivers came from the coastline.

I had been lulled by the calm weather, the mild breeze and damp but not wet ground.

Even though the storm systems ramped up bringing more rain to the area than we have seen since springtime, the winds that newscasters were predicting did not get as strong as feared. The rain itself has been moderate but not the gully-washers that we were preparing for.

It is good to see puddles, and the river has been rising. I would expect there are salmon coming upstream to spawn but the water is nearly black from the Alder leaves that are decomposing as they fall from their trees.

The big leaf maples have now gotten into the act and are dropping leaves faster than a snow storm to cover the ground, pickups and the driveway.

It sure looks like autumn is here in earnest.