End Of Summer Hikes, Acorns, Ferns And A Hognose Snake,

We still have about eight hours of Summer left here in the Northern Hemisphere but a couple of walks in the woods the past two days without knowing the actual date could fool  you into thinking Fall has arrived. 

As usual this time of year I went out looking for mushrooms even though the weather has been extremely dry.  i didn’t find any yesterday but did find many signs. The ground was covered in acorns of all sorts and size. 

And although most it the trees are still mainly green with only hints of Fall colors many of the ferns have already turned brown.  So many species all fading away in their own way

And I found  tea berries, wild grapes, apples and milkweed, all indications Summer is almost gone. 

It was mostly cloudy and cool yesterday and this morning but the skies cleared and we had brilliant sunshine this afternoon. i think it brought this fellow out. 

I found him, I think he is a hognose snake, near a tree where I have found a hen of the woods mushroom (known around here as a “ramshead)  in the past. He looked  lethargic, probably from the cool weather,  but wasn’t happy with me getting close for a photograph. 

Despite seeing the snake I still looked for mushrooms and was lucky to find this one. It is a little old but still should make for some good meals. 

I headed back and loved seeing the sun reflect off the tree which are just getting a hint of color in them. It is sad to see the Summer go but it was a nice one and looking forward to some nice Fall weather during the next few weeks. Here is a link to some more photographs I took on my hike today. https://keepyoureyespeeled.net/photographs-5/nggallery/blog-photos/mushroom-hikes-september-21-22-2015

“All in all, it was a never-to-be-forgotten summer — one of those summers which come seldom into any life, but leave a rich heritage of beautiful memories in their going — one of those summers which, in a fortunate combination of delightful weather, delightful friends and delightful doing, come as near to perfection as anything can come in this world.”
― L.M. Montgomery,