And it continues

 

This fall has been long and slow.  There are still a few stragglers hanging on to their leaves.

Leaf fall

Even the heron has to wade through leaves.

 

Fall again

Another look at fall at the lake.  

 

Fall sneaks in

The trees are slowly changing.

 

Turning

It seems a bit early, but leaves are beginning to turn.

 

Finally!

The leaves from this fall are still in the street.  The crews have been hampered by rain and snow and are just now getting to our neighborhood.  They suck the leaves up into big trucks and bring them to the city composting facility.  They're almost compost already.

 

Piles and piles

Raleigh is called the "City of Oaks"

We notice it most when waiting for the leaf pick up.

 

In between

It's not quite winter, but there aren't many leaves still to fall.  The sweetgums are holding onto their leaves but most of the other trees have given up.

 

Midwinter color

This little sapling doesn't know when to quit.  All the other trees are bare.

 

Holding on

There are only a few leaves left on the trees.  This oak is holding on.

 

Maple glory

More leaves turning.

 

Finally Fall

I thought we wouldn't see fall this year, but finally, mid-November, here it is.

 

Fall sneaks in

The trees here don't change all at once, each one takes it's turn.

 

Turning

We've had some cooler weather, and the leaves are just beginning to change.

 

Amazing Leaf Sucker

Every fall, after most of the leaves are down, the city sends out the Amazing Leaf Sucker.  You can rake the leaves to the curb, and the truck takes them away.

Off he goes trailing a cloud of leaf dust.

Fall sneaks in

Slowly, slowly the leaves are changing.  Now it's the Maples.

Burning bush

The bushes are getting into the fall mood.

Sweet fall

Without a hard freeze here, the trees take their time changing.  The sweetgums are one of the first to change, and one of the most colorful.

Forest Floor

Sometimes looking down is a nice a view as looking up.

Fall sneaks in

Little by little autumn is coming.

The dogwoods are turning red.

A few maples are turning brilliant.