Glorious autumn colour in eastern Ontario

When I was growing up, autumn was my favourite season. The weather was good, not too hot and not too cold, and the forests surrounding our house erupted in glorious oranges, yellows, and reds. The photo to the left shows the land where I grew up, although the house I lived in has been replaced by the new owner.

Since moving to Toronto over 20 years ago, I've found autumn disappointing. Our fall colours just don't seems as rich and varied as those in eastern Ontario. Obviously living in a city is not going to provide the same number of trees as living surrounded by forest, but in eastern Ontario even in the more built up areas the trees seem more vivid. (This tree was photographed on Church Street in Almonte.)

My very favourites are these maples, don't know which species, which turn a gorgeous red-orange (these photos do not do the colours justice).

My son discovered these gorgeous leaves on a sprouting maple stump, also on Church Street in Almonte. It seems to me that the best fall colours are by water.

I think this was the first time I was home at the right time to see autumn leaves in 20 years! I'll have to make this a regular autumn pilgrimage.

Tragopogon dubius seed heads

Warning: this plant is considered a noxious weed in Ontario Tragopogon dubius, known in English as "western goatsbeard", "yellow goatsbeard", "meadow goatsbeard", "western salsify", "common salsify", or "wild oyster plant", and in French as salsifis majeur or salsifis douteux, is a biennial native to Europe. The flowers and seedheads are somewhat similar to those of the dandelion, but goatsbeard is much larger and the leaves are grass-like and clasp the stem.

Goatsbeard is considered a noxious weed under the Ontario Weed Control Act.

I photographed this plant in Almonte, in eastern Ontario.