The land opens up on the slopes of Connecticut Hill, Newfield of the Finger Lakes Region of New York State.
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Autumn Fields, Finger Lakes
Hay Bales!!
Tag: tree
Two Snags
Brock-Harvey Forest Preserve on an early May morning
I found these snags surrounded and, at a distance, hidden by the burgeoning Brock-Harvey forest preserve here in the Finger Lakes.
As with burgeon (see yesterday’s blog post), the word “snag” has a long history from a forested northern region of the planet, though it hales from Scandinavian languages rather than Old English and Old German. As a noun “snag” is something with a point and a body long enough to cause inconvenience, the point catching on anything handy. As a verb “snag” is to become inconvenienced by a projecting body.
In forestry, a snag is any trunk of a dead tree. Commonly, a tree top breaks off leaving a jagged point which possibly can become an inconvenience. For birds, an upright dead tree is a blessing, perfect for homemaking.
Fallen, the snag is still a snag and also a home first for fungus. When the work of the fungus is done, the resulting mound is perfect for growing new trees.
Click me for the next post from this forest preserve, “Grand Views.”
References
snag definitions are from the Compact Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, 1971
Copyright 2022 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
The Haw in Hawthorn
I originally published these blossoms as “wild rose”. It was my Facebook friends who pointed out these are hawthorn flowers. The key to identification was the shape of the leaves.
In correcting my mistake, I learned the young leaves of Hawthorn are excellent for salads. Wonder how the fairy folk, associated with single hawthorns (as in the following photograph from the Hill of Tara), react to picking leaves from their trees? I didn’t hear of the practice during our time in Ireland.
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My mistake was understandable, in botany the hawthorn is in the same family as the rose. The flowers are similar, having five petals. The “haw” in hawthorn is from the Old English word for hedge, as is this linear standoff the tree lining the way up to the Loughcrew Cairns.
I read these votive offerings are made at Beltane, in which case these are fresh from placement May 1.
The following year Pam underwent double total knee replacements, never the less, she was great company for all our adventures on the island. Even this steep climb.
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These views were our reward for reaching the top.
The Emerald Isle, we fully understood this name.
The Greek name for the Hawthorn species is formed from two words meaning “strength” and “sharp”, referring to the thorny branches.
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We marveled at the hawthorn hedges in field after field. I first notice them from the World Heritage Site, Newgrange (Brú na Bóinne, “Palace of the Boyne”). Here is one on the Dingle Peninsula, on the other side of the island.
Another Ireland post of interest, “Proleek, Grandfather McCardle’s home.”
Across the Plain
Sere grasses
The Finger Lakes are formed by a series of inclined planes spread across central New York State.
Here we look northwest across the land between Cayuga and Seneca lakes, all forests and farm land. Seneca Lake is not visible,15 miles distant, and the Finger Lakes National Forest in between.
The only town is Hector, New York, population 4,854 in the 2,000 census. The foreground are sere grasses, a field of beef cattle and pond.
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Across the Plain
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Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Autumn Apple Orchard, landscape orientation
compare portrait vs. landscape orientation.
Unharvested apples on the ground and branches of this apple orchard off Black Oak Road on the slopes of Connecticut Hill, Newfield in the Finger Lakes of New York.
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Autumn Apple Orchard, portrait 
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Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Autumn Apple Orchard, portrait orientation
apples cling into winter
Unharvested apples on the ground and branches of this apple orchard off Black Oak Road on the slopes of Connecticut Hill, Newfield in the Finger Lakes of New York.
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Autumn Apple Orchard, portrait
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Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Black Oak View
Autumn Ridge
Black Oak Road approaches Connecticut Hill from the north. At this point a long view to west opens up that include Cayuta Lake and the distant highlands of Seneca Lake.
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Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Autumn Road
A Long View
Here we have a vista of Bostwick Road descent off West hill into the Enfield valley and, then, in the distance, up Harvey Hill. Late autumn foliage graces the scene.
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Bostwick Road, October
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Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Lone Elm
Among Hemlocks
A Rock Elm, late to turn in autumn, stands among a hemlock grove on the South Rim Trail of Taughannock Falls Park, Finger Lakes Region of New York State.
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South Rim Trail, early November
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Finger Lakes National Forest 9
compare portrait vs. landscape orientation.
On our roundabout return from Finger Lakes National Forest we turned off Rt 79 at Mecklenburg onto county route 6 that becomes McIntyre Road in this stretch between two right angle curves. We turned off at the western curve with this fine autumn overlook toward Buck Hill.
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Click me for the first post of this series.
Michael Stephen Wills Photography 