I’m sure last weekend was the primo time for viewing the Fall foliage here in my neck of the woods, but it was a rainy and dismal-looking pair of days. This morning I decided I had best get going to view peak colors before tomorrow’s blustery winds and Tuesday’s gusty Election Day storm strips all the leaves from the trees in one fell swoop.
I had originally intended to drive out to Lake Erie Metropark this morning, but my boss has a friend who was involved in a deer/vehicle crash earlier this week and it left me wary. This guy and his wife were returning from their northern Michigan cabin, when a deer plowed into their vehicle and it was totaled. Luckily they escaped unscathed. Lake Erie Metropark is out in the sticks and I’ve seen deer crossing the road within the Park earlier this year, so I’ll hold off until deer mating season winds down a bit.
The weatherman said today was the better pick of our weekend days, with sun in abundance, so I pushed a few errands and outside chores over to Sunday based on his advice.
My alternate destination was beautiful Elizabeth Park to check out the Fall colors. With the abundance of trees at this venue, I figured they’d surely be sporting their Fall foliage finery by now.
But first … I had to make a pit stop.
I packed up some peanuts (of course) and had my whistle and pepper spray handy. Off I went in the car. This week I was not going to run out of peanuts and be concerned about running over one of my furry friends, and, I figured if I saw a coyote, I was prepared and had a safe haven in the car.
I wanted to stop at Council Point Park and feed the squirrels before I headed to Elizabeth Park. The squirrels forage mostly in the morning and other times when I’ve stopped to feed them after visiting other parks on the weekend, they are nowhere to be found.
Because I’m prudent (as well as petrified I’ll come nose-to-nose with a coyote), I took my pepper spray canister off my lanyard and shoved it into my pocket. Likewise, I took the can of pepper gel out of its holster on my fanny pack. Those two safeguards work well in the warmer months, but with a coat over top of the fanny pack, I’d be fumbling around, so why take a chance? I had all my bases covered, so as I crossed the parking lot I wondered what I thought? From what I’ve read, coyotes steer clear of humans. So was a coyote going to come after me with ears laid back and teeth bared? Better to have an overactive imagination than be complacent. Besides one is injured and I figured those coyotes had three rainy days with Council Point Park all to themselves and might not appreciate a human intrusion this morning.
I parked the car at the far corner of the lot and right away a trio of squirrels came running over to visit. I herded them away from the parking spaces and past the curbs to feed them. I decided I’d walk one loop only and feed my little buddies, then get on my way. I chitchatted with some of the other walkers and took some more photos of the Fall foliage.
And now, ONE last thing …
In reviewing the photos from Council Point Park, I realized there was one thing from each photo that stood out for me:
In the header photo, you see one memorial tree festooned with silk Autumn leaves wrapped around its trunk; there is also a memorial wreath attached to the tree.
The golden tree that hangs over the Ecorse Creek is as beautiful as its reflection and one lone duck paddles nonchalantly by.
The Park’s vibrant colors are evident in this shot, though the one squirrel is unfazed by it all.
And look at that one oddball dark cloud that mars the sky.
And finally, in a row of mostly green trees, this one vibrant tree sticks out like a sore thumb – a very beautiful sore thumb!
I’m happy to report that I saw no coyotes and my most-recent peek at the City’s Crime forum tells me a large coyote has been sighted on the opposite end of our city and two coyotes in Wyandotte.
Next I headed to Elizabeth Park. I originally intended to include both park visits in today’s post but I took a ton of photos at Elizabeth Park. Now I must admit I always take a lot of photos, but this time I took twice as many because shortly after I arrived there, the sun dipped behind the clouds. Bummer! It had been a beautiful day … but I took pictures of the leaves anyway.
I got all done walking the 1¼ mile perimeter loop, up and down every bridge, along the boardwalk and then the sun came out! So, I decided to retrace my steps and do another identical tour of Elizabeth Park. Remember that I did a mile at Council Point Park already, so I logged 6 ½ miles altogether. I’ll have to winnow down my photos, so stay tuned for “Leaf Peepin’ – Part II.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Dear “Leaf Pippin”……………………………..I enjoy taking pictures of the trees turning bright colors too……………….
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Thanks Ann Marie – you and Steven ought to take a trip to Elizabeth Park in the next day or so, before that big rainstorm on Tuesday – the trees there are all golden.
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The decorated tree is beautiful, as are your other photos. We finally have some color here, though not as brilliant as yours.
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Thanks Anne – the other photos I took today are mostly golden leaves and some carpets of leaves which were pretty, and it will likely be the last of the Fall foliage … blustery days tomorrow, Tuesday (supposed to be a very ugly day) and also Wednesday. There will be leaves everywhere. There was a row of poplar trees today that were absolutely gorgeous from afar and close-up – a vibrant yellow, and the wind was strong at this Park so I photographed them from afar thinking by the time I got close up there would be no leaves left!
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I hope we have good weather Tuesday. Our polling place is beside the creek that we walk to every day. It would be great to vote early and not have to start a car to get there.
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We are going to have crummy weather – they are predicting especially bad weather in the a.m. and continuing through the day with 45-50 mph winds. Not a good voting day at all and this is an important mid-term election so every vote counts.
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I’ve heard weathermen agonizing over election day weather. I have the feeling that if people had tickets to a basketball game, they’d go, no matter what the weather. It’s too bad we are not as dedicated to vote.
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I agree Anne – I heard this Summer around the time of the primary elections that there are some countries that vote on weekends to ensure people are not at their jobs and cannot leave work to vote – I would think the polls are open long enough to accommodate people. They are agonizing here as well and some organizations have offered free rides to the polls hoping to get people there who might bow out due to the rain/storm.
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Lovely colours now your sun has come out on those trees.
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This is why Autumn is my favorite season Andy – I feel cheated that all the rain has taken away my daily trips to view the trees changing from day to day … I am monitoring a tree by my house as I have watched its colors turn from green to rust and now red, then gone. I hope to post the rest of the pics I took yesterday later today. I literally went back and retraced my route once the sun came out – as you noticed, the sun on those golden leaves is just gorgeous.
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Linda,
When do you put up your posts ? I almost miss your posts. I am glad you saw Parker and friends though you didn’t mention their names. The fall colours are so beautiful- I can’t describe their beauty. You are blessed to see these colours and live in a place where there is an abundance of nature. Glad the coyote is elsewhere with his family and hope he moves to a forest so he can be well and humans too.
Susie
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Hi Susie – I don’t follow a regular schedule for my posts … I was posting more frequently in the Summer months in the past, but not so much this year as the weather has been wacky and also since the blogging has taken off. Last year I was not following anyone and I only had a handful of e-mail subscribers and only one regular commenter (I had two until Marge passed away in August 2017) … so blogging interaction has increased dramatically. I do try to do a post each weekend day when I take longer walks and at least one or two times during the week. I can send you the link when I post if you want when finished – just let me know okay? I did that with Marge for years … she was on Facebook most of the time, and no longer on her e-mail, so I just sent her a message “hot off the press” – she liked that.
I am glad you liked the colors and they are my favorite part of the Fall – it is my favorite season. I took some more beautiful foliage pics yesterday and that will be Part II. I’ll try to do that today – have some outside stuff to do unless it is too windy. I saw Parker yesterday and at least 9 or 10 of his friends along the path – I only stayed there long enough to feed them on that walking loop and then I headed to Elizabeth Park which is about 8 or 9 miles away from here. I got some nice geese pictures at Elizabeth Park – at least I think they are nice … a trio of Canada Geese together grazing … one is standing on one foot. And a group of geese swimming together – about a dozen of them. Just such a treat for me seeing them – our geese no longer are at Council Point Park. I am monitoring the City’s crime site for coyote sightings … now that they have moved into the neighborhoods as well, I have to keep my eyes open at all times. .
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My husband and I commented on our maple tree finally turning color on Thursday. Friday we had high winds and a lot of rain. Saturday 90% of the leaves were gone so we have fall foliage for about 24 hours.
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That’s too bad as the maples are the trees with all the vibrant colors – we had a blustery day today and leaves were just pouring down from my neighbor’s tree. I ended up not raking today as the wind was blowing everything my way and I would have been discouraged to spend several hours out there only to have the lawn covered again.
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Better safe than sorry, Linda. Sadly most of our leaves have fallen already.
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I agree Ruth. We had a blustery day today and leaves were flying everywhere, plus our Election Day weather is not looking very good – rain all day and 50 mph wind gusts. There won’t be a any leaves in the trees after Tuesday I don’t think.
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Beautiful autumn colors Linda! You’re right to be wary of coyotes. We have them come through here too, but fortunately there’s a fence in between them and us. There was a report in the local paper the other day of a coyote biting a child in the family’s driveway! 😬 I hope you get some more nice weather to enjoy more fall colors! 🍂
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Oh that’s very scary Sabine – in the northern suburbs, it is more rural and they have had coyotes before which preyed on people’s pets and several small dog were killed by coyotes – I hope it never gets that bad here. I’ll be the child had to undergo rabies shots.
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Yes the coyotes can be scary Linda! They are pretty daring around here, but this is the first time I heard of someone getting bit. 😬 I used to see them walking down our street, but always safely using the sidewalk!
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In the neighborhood, this coyote I saw was using the sidewalks too … walking down the middle of the sidewalk like he owned it … I’m keeping up with our local Facebook crime site to find out the coyotes’ sightings.
No one has commented on what the police said yet, I just checked. I have pepper spray and gel and a whistle but I hear it is better to be quiet/silent and not move.
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The closest I ever got to one was when he walked right up to my car window at Joshua Tree. My then teenage kids were speechless! They had never seen one up close. You’re smart to have something to defend yourself with in your pocket. I’m not worried about coyote encounters, just sometimes the human kind away from everything. I should at least get a whistle! 😉
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Sabine – I had the pepper spray then we had a couple of attacks here in Lincoln Park (the 2-legged variety sadly) and people recommended pepper gel since it won’t spray back, so I ordered mine from Harry’s Surplus, a military supply store. I have a Storm brand whistle on a lanyard. It is supposed to be loud as a police whistle and considered the loudest whistle in the world (130 decibels) and recommended for people who boat or go underwater scuba diving, etc. as the decibels are strong even under water. Here are links so you can check it out. I ordered mine years ago from Duluth Traders but Amazon has it as well or right from the manufacturer: http://www.stormwhistles.com/
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Thanks so much Linda! I’ll have to check it out! I’ve come across some rather sketchy characters in the nature park near my house. I’ll put those things on my Christmas wishlist! 😉
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You’re welcome Sabine – I feel better having mine close to me and I tested it out in a grocery store parking lot – wow! Put it on your wish list … even your stocking stuffer wish list. 🙂
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I will do just that! 😉
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Very beautiful pictures. Reminds a little bit about where I live because we live in the same latitude.😊 I’m almost watching nature tv shows and my favorite channel is Nat Geo Wild. Have seen many programs about coyote that has exploded in the United States. They are now available in all states except Hawaii They have even mated with wolves in some places and become bigger and more aggressive.
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Gld you enjoyed the Fall colors – so you have likewise then? I remember Sweden was on the sane latitude from when you researched it during the never-ending snow.
I have the rest of the pictures today and likely this is the end of the Fall leaf photos – the gusty wind had leaves going everywhere. You know I had never seen a coyote until two weeks ago yesterday and I was walking in some neighborhoods taking pictures of Halloween and harvest decorations since it was a nice and sunny day (they have been rare here – we have had nothing but rain, since August and it’s been very discouraging). Anyway, I turned the corner in a residential area, and along comes a coyote. Now, other cities nearby have had them, but they are rural – we are not. It ran right past me. I was so surprised. Someone in the crime forum did say they saw a larger coyote at the opposite end of our City. If they are mating with wolves, they will be more dangerous to humans and pets.
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Beautiful fall foliage photos! I especially love the one with the yellow leaves and the duck in the foreground. I don’t think you have to be concerned about a coyote attacking you, although you are wise to carry pepper spray. You never know – I was once bitten by a dog while I was on a run, and I have had several farm dogs run up to me, barking and growling! Your squirrel pals are another thing, though. I am pretty sure a coyote would take one of them if he could catch them!
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Glad you liked them Laurie – I just finished Part II a short time ago and likely they are the end of the Fall foliage pics for 2018. I hope there are no coyote issues. I kind of thought they would run around in the Park, then return to wherever they came from – it doesn’t look like it though.
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Just read Part II!
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Lots of Fall foliage and I think that is the last post about foliage for 2018 the way things look here!
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Never tire of the changing leaves.
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Me neither Bryan and I’m just finalizing a post about Part II of yesterday’s trek. Today it is windy and gusty so now the leaves are adorning the grass.
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Glad you were safe without a coyote in sight with only your sweet squirrels around. Great you could get out in the rain free weather. Well done on adding even more miles to your amazing total so far.
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Thanks Zena – I am still trying to make that goal and we are having some sleety, maybe snow flurries on Friday and maybe next Tuesday again. Hopefully it will not impede progress. As to the coyotes, I’ve been asking around the crime site and one woman advises that she contacted the City’s Chief of Police to ask what is being done about the coyote problem – no answer yet – hopefully soon. I didn’t see any coyote’s this morning but I was watching all around me while I walked. I worry for the squirrels – I was upset enough when the hawk swooped down and tried to grab Stubby.
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