Nature Notes: Raindrops continue as a frequent companion

Another seven days between nature notes and the majority of those days have either been raining or cloudy part or all of the day.

However, when I look back through the shots I've taken since last nature notes I notice that I have a lot more pictures with blue skies.

Besides the fact that it's easier to take pictures when the sun is out, I know that at this point everytime I see a bit of blue in the sky I head outdoors as soon as I can.

I never lose sight of how important rain is but we've had enough rain to cause periodic flooding issues. Nothing too bad but it wouldn't hurt to have a few more clear days in between the rainy ones.

I have to say that in spite of how wet it has been, we've had an unusually beautiful fall. I know that dryer weather is supposed to be good for optimal leaf color but you wouldn't know it by the year we've had.

I can't think of a year where we've had more beatiful or prolonged color. At this point some trees have lost their leaves while others are reaching their peak.

Before long all the leaves will be on the ground but I enjoy that too.

I was surprised on Sunday to see the city trucks out collecting leaves from the curbs. They usually do that during the week after most of the leaves have dropped. I guess with flooding they have had to get a jump on it since the sun actually came out on Sunday.

They even got some of my leaves which is unusual. I rake all my leaves into big piles and move them to my back garden. I even rake the ones which fall over the curve, into the area where the city picks them up, back to my yard so they don't get removed. However, they caught me off guard by going by with the trucks on Sunday.

All of these shots were taken over the past 7 days so as you can see there are still leaves left to fall. For other participants, please visit the home of nature notes.