Labor Day has just passed, officially ending our ‘Official’ Summer Season!  This year, temperature wise, you would hardly think summer is coming to an end!  The only inclination “In that vein”, is the shorter days, it is definitely getting darker, earlier AND lighter, later! With that in mind, Charlie Fineran gets you in the mood with fall photos!

**REMEMBER, September 22^nd is the Autumnal Equinox, Nature’s beginning of Autumn!!**

Speaking for myself, I enjoy the fact, that, we have four distinct seasons, each one, offering its own unique opportunities for enjoying diverse aspects of life!  AND, this “Changing of the guard” so to speak, for me, also, affords a needed break or relief, relief from the waning season’s characteristic traits. 

I am ready for some shorter, cooler and less humid days!  I’m ready to walk out my door and not be confronted by the obvious incessant fact, my grass needs to be cut, AGAIN/ALREADY, or at the same time, doing a dash to my car, jumping in and turning on the car air-conditioner, creating a safety zone, from the heat and humidity!  While, I will miss the many colorful birds chirping and filling the air with their melodious songs and calls to their mates, all the while raising their young during their summer visit, I look forward to Autumn, watching and observing those same friends in their mass migrations south, in full confidence of their return in the next Spring season! 

I’m also going to miss the divergent wildlife that are out and about during the summer months enjoying the never ending greenery, for sustenance, BUT, as a photographer, I realize, in Fall I can watch them scramble about, collecting and eating food in preparation for their winter hibernation or living!!  Look at the season change not in a loss or gain scenario, but, as a continuous series of transformations, letting go of the old and ringing in the new!! 

STORY BEHIND PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Friday, September 10^th 2021 – I was out and about, “Looking for Stuff” and I made my way up through DWGNRA (Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area).  During my auto photo tour, I noticed there were many leaves both on the road and raining down in the crisp breeze!  That moment of awareness of the leaves, caught me quite by surprise!!  It was the first physical inclination I had seen that summer was closing!  Other than the shorter days we really have had no early sneak peaks of autumn with really cool nights etc.  NOW, thinking about that, it is time for my annual, Fall Color Alert – reminding you to get ready for some beautiful Autumn trips OR just be aware of autumn coming and keep your eyes peeled, enjoying all of Nature’s Art Shows in your daily travels about!  Just figured out my Photo of the Week!

Autumn means Nature’s dazzling display of colors!  This is a reminder to you about the upcoming Autumn Colors! Take your Family, grab a friend or fly solo, it is always worth the trip.  Keep in mind, it doesn’t even have to be a trip, just “Slow it down a little” and “take time to look around” and “be a little more focused and observant.” I guarantee you won’t be disappointed with the show! 

***NOTE/DISCLAIMER:  these are photos on file, not current conditions out this way!  I mention this only because I’ve had some ‘close calls’ with some earlier emails!  I had sent some photos and then received some responses with remarks like, “I didn’t  realize just how far ahead of us your seasons are!”  In that one case, I had some snow photos that I threw in “just for some contrast” and my friend was getting ready to head out this way!  You are by all means welcome to come out BUT we still have a ways to go for color!!***

Enjoy Your Open Space, Charlie Fineran

Director Open Space, Allamuchy Township