September in Vermont

Below are excerpts from Ellen’s journal. She has kept her Walden Hill Journal going since we moved from Illinois. We hope you enjoy reading them for a vicarious experience of Vermont.

Sept. 5, 2006 We’ve had an international start to September with four days in Danville, Quebec attending our 4th annual arts symposium. Once again Jeff was invited for the “jumeau” (twinning) of the two Danvilles, fostering continuing exchange and good will between the sister cities. Two days of rain dampened the attendance a bit but those who did turn out were definitely interested in seeing the artists at work and looking at artwork. As usual there was great “bonne ami” among the artists and we were graciously included. Attending were a number of new artists with some very special work among the experimental art. There were the usual four venues for display and artists from each created a canvas for auction to benefit the symposium. It was great fun watching groups of artists simultaneously working on a single canvas, with very interesting choreography and intertwining of bodies resulting as many brushes attacked the canvas. The Quebecois certainly know how to have a good time!

Sept. 6, 2006 There’s just enough break in the clouds for some nice, rosy sunset glow. A splash of red and orange in a few of the maples compliments the color in the sky. We’re at that point in September where everyone is talking about an early foliage season. This just might be the year where predictions come true. The large old maples on Walden Hill Road which usually hold back are just starting to change. Canadian and snow geese that hole up for about a month in Danville, Quebec before their long migration south arrived about 3 weeks ahead of schedule this year. Something in their radar was urging them to begin journeying southward. Two very noisy snow geese honked over our field this morning. I imagine there must be a flock resting nearby. During the four days we were gone, the garden managed to produce 3 more zucchini. One went into a Thai curry dish, one into two loaves of chocolate zucchini bread and one is still in the fridge. I need a dry day to dig the remaining potatoes. What we’ve had so far has been very tasty. The kale which was being nibbled down to bare stalks has re grown some leaves now that whatever was feasting on it has moved on. Hopefully we’ll salvage enough for a few pots of stew for the freezer.

Sept. 10, 2006 A crisp 44° this morning after a low of 41° last night. Color continues to spread across the valley with the fields turning an autumnal golden brown. We’ve just returned from a two-day anniversary excursion back to the Lac Brome region in Quebec. We enjoyed a feast of French cuisine and a scenic drive along the wine route.

One of the wineries along the wine route.

Special varieties of grapes are grown that can stand the
colder temperatures of winter.

Sunny weather prevailed and fall color has begun sprouting in Canada as well. We continued with a half day of sunshine at home yesterday which gave me just enough time to dig the remaining potatoes and mow a bit of the front and side yard. We had hoped to harvest more basil but will leave that chore for today. Birds are busy stocking up on berries, seeds and insects. A colorful array of flickers, cedar waxwings and juvenile bluebirds are among our lunchtime guests.

Sept. 12, 2006 Frost warnings last night but we fare OK up on the hill. We brought in the pots of geraniums and tuberous begonias and covered the dahlias just in case. Fortunately we had done our final basil harvest as well. Now, with the exception of zucchini and husk cherries, all of the frost vulnerable veggies have been picked, eaten or cooked and frozen. We’re seeing the end of blackberries as well. Individual trees are turning with the occasional maple in full color. We seem to be rapidly moving from summer to fall. Our woodpile is nicely seasoned and ready to bring in once we’ve had a frost. Mark Breen in his morning weather report, calls this a “sparkling, classic fall day”. Looking out our picture window, with the directional rising sun highlighting the colorful valley under a cloudless sky, I would have to agree. The finishing touch is a thick blanket of floating fog, outlining the CT River Valley.

Well I stand corrected on my previous blackberry observation. We took a beautiful fall stroll along the reservoir road and came back with a quart of berries. The calm reflection in the reservoir was very colorful with dragon flies gracefully seining the water for insects.

Sept. 22, 2006 I’m enjoying being back in the cool and calm of VT after a very hot and humid week in FL. I certainly felt the approach of the fall equinox in that southern, very flat part of the country. Sunrise was very abrupt around 7:00 and sunset slightly more lingering at just past 7:00. Fall officially arrives at 12:03 AM tomorrow. I was welcomed home by a beautiful rainbow in Burlington and increasingly more vivid color as we climbed the hills towards home. Today it’s overcast which makes the colors more vibrant and varied. I’ve located my favorite tree for this fall. It’s a bright red swamp maple of course and the first sight I see out of the bathroom window each morning. It’s at the edge of the woods, so somewhat more protected. Hopefully that’ll help it retain its colorful leaves longer. We survived another frost warning last night. Cloud cover unexpectedly moved in to keep the temperature just at 40°. It’s the dahlias I’d like to save. There’s only one blossom that has opened so far. It looks like the green “pinching” I did earlier this summer helped the beautiful bushy foliage but didn’t encourage early blooming.

Sept. 25, 2006 Color is picking up daily with individual trees combining to form a quilted tapestry, covering the hills. We entertained friends from Santa Barbara,CA and fortunately had enough clearing during the rainy weekend, for our usual foliage tour through Greenbanks Hollow covered bridge and onto Peacham. We ended a very full day with the short hike through beautiful Groton State Forest up to Owl’s Head. Clouds with long sunbeams highlighting the lake and colorful hills made for a very impressive view. The wind, however, made it difficult to remain out in the open for very long. Fortunately the gusts were forcing us back from the edge of the ledge rather than propelling us towards it.

Sept. 27, 2006 The back lawn is covered in a ghostly white, which I’m hoping is just dewey cobwebs and not frost. The thermometer is showing a low this morning of a safe 39° but that sensor is under the eaves, not on the ground. Dahlias and basil will quickly let me know what the ultimate frost answer is for sure. Meanwhile, we’ve had some clear, starry nights with the Milky Way sweeping across the front of the house. That was quite an impressive sight for our city guests.

Sept. 28, 2006 It’s a warm but very blustery fall day. The forecast is for the wind to be even stronger tomorrow with gusts up to 45 mph on the western side of the state. Fortunately the colorful leaves are still securely fastened to the trees. Wooly bear caterpillars have been out and about, soaking up the sun while it lasts and searching for likely spots to crawl into for the winter. Our emerald, jeweled chrysalis is still firmly anchored to the woodpile with no sign of the monarch butterfly emerging.

Monarch butterfly chrysalis

I’m not sure if they winter over in that state or if this is a late blooming butterfly. There is however a small hole near our turtle nest in the garden, so hopefully the eggs have hatched and the turtles ventured forth. I’ll be cautious when I till that part of the garden in case the turtles decided to remain underground until spring. Flocks of wild turkeys are gleaning the fields for grasshoppers, crickets or whatever else they can find. We still have not had a frost up here so there are plenty of creepy crawlies available.

Sept. 30, 2006 Steady, chilly, constant rain today put a real damper on Autumn on the Green festivities. People came out but didn’t stay any longer than necessary. Fortunately we were inside a large tent. By 3:00 me, my cold and I had had enough of the dampness so we packed up shop and came home. Jeff salvaged the day with our first wood stove fire of the season. The new catalyst he installed seems to be working quite well. A lone deer was out grazing in the field as I headed down the road for band rehearsal. Our neighbors reported seeing a big bull moose near the woods by our back field. He had evidently just rubbed the velvet off his rack which was an impressive shade of deep red. I’ll have to take a look in the lower woods to see if any trees show signs of recent scraping or even possible shreds of skin.