Fast Fading Fall

This post is short on words and shows off the fall colors viewed on recent walks in Mine Falls Park, a 325-acre park in Nashua, NH, that's close to the mill apartments. It is bordered on the North by the Nashua River and the south by the Mill Pond canal system. These images were taken on both canal and river sides of our walk. (None are AI generated.)

Photos were taken 2+ weeks ago, when there was still fall color in the park. Due to some recent windy days, most of the leaves are on the paths now.

Even when a tree is bare, it's still a beautiful sight attested to by poet Alfred Joyce Kilmer, like ourselves, a NJ native. Kilmer (1886-1918), the fourth and youngest child in his family, was named after two priests at Christ Church in New Brunswick, NJ: the curate, Alfred R. Taylor, and the rector, the Rev. Dr. Elisha Brooks  Kilmer's father, Dr. Frederick Barnett Kilmer, a physician and analytical chemist, who worked for the NJ-based Johnson and Johnson Company, is credited as inventing the company's famous baby powder.) 

Joyce Kilmer (1908)

Joyce Kilmer was a journalist, literary critic, lecturer, and editor, who also taught Latin in Morristown, NJ, defined words for the Funk and Wagnalls dictionary and later wrote for The New York Times. In 12917, shortly after the U.S. entered WW I in 1917, Kilmer enlisted in the New York National Guard. At the time of his deployment to Europe, he was considered the leading American Catholic poet and lecturer of his generation. He was deployed to France with the 69th Infantry Regiment (the famous Fighting 69th). Tragically, he died at the age of 31, killed by a sniper's bullet at the Second Battle of the Marne in 1918 leaving behind a widow and several children. He is famously remembered for a 1913 short poem, Trees, first published in the August 1913 issue of Poetry: A Magazine of Verse.

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Waning Colors

While there will be future posts to share about our UK travels, we're glad to have returned home in time to appreciate some of autumn's beauty. It's always enjoyable to share local images.

Living in the mill apartments, we're within walking distance of Mine Falls Park, the largest city park in Nashua, NH. Join me on our November jaunt, perhaps the last this season.

Our recent travels abroad began in mid-October through the end of the month. That's about the time most of the autumn colors here in Nashua, NH, were most vibrant, at peak is the term.

We feared that most of the famed New England color this fall would have gone by the time we were back in Nashua. We went walking, the first November weekend after returning home to find that fall color was not all gone. There was a lot more color than expected in the park.

I've posted many times before about the 325-acre Mine Falls Park, which was purchased in 1969 from the Nashua, New Hampshire Foundation with city and federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) money. It is bordered on the north by the Nashua River and on the south by the millpond and canal.

The park name originates from the 18th century, when low-quality lead was reportedly mined from the islands below the park's falls. In the early 19th century, the potential of the Nashua River to drive the wheels of industrial mills was recognized.

The property was once owned by the Nashua Manufacturing Company, which harnessed the river's flow for power in its mills which closed in 1948. (Nashua Manufacturing Company is now Clocktower Place Apartments.) In 1992, the park trails were designated part of the New Hampshire Heritage Trail system, which extends 130 miles along the Merrimack River from Massachusetts to Canada.

Water reflects remain as one of my favorite photo subjects and, on the day of our walk, these were captured.

There was a large group of Mallard ducks in the canal that afternoon. Several males were putting on quite a display, perhaps for the females among the group?

Above is the late afternoon view of the former millyard, which is now apartments and business use. In 1987, the Nashua River Canal and the Nashua Manufacturing Company Historic District (Millyard) were placed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Thanks for coming along on this walk, hope you enjoyed the local colors too.

A Bit of Color

This year, foliage colors in Mine Falls Park, Nashua, NH, wasn't as gloriously colorful as in previous years. That's what I found out during a walk there earlier this week.

Usually, fall colors are viewed from the ground up and looking at the trees. But looking down revealed some very colorful photo opps. There were many vibrant colors seen by looking in the waters of the canal that flows through the park.

The name Mine Falls dates from the 1700s, when low quality lead was supposedly mined from the island below the falls. In the early 1800s, the potential of the Nashua River to drive the wheels of industry was recognized. Workers used shovels and mules to dig the three-mile long canal that powered area mills, including Nashua Manufacturing Company. This mill building is now Clocktower Place, a residential apartment building and our current home.

Light created some beautiful patterns during my short ramble. I wanted to see some fall color since by the time we return from our UK trip (there now), most trees could be leaf-free. Autumn is such a lovely and colorful season, my favorite of all four seasons; winter comes next.

Typically, New England's foliage starts in early October and peaks towards the end of the month. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, this year the best leaf peeping opportunities will be in early October with many areas at or near peak fall color even by mid-October. 

However, this year's wet weather means that some colors are less vibrant than usual. This past summer was very rainy in New England, characterized by flash flooding in Vermont and the second-wettest July on record in Boston, MA. Nashua, NH, also had a lot of rainy days.

Too much rain affects leaf colors as it causes fungus on leaves, especially on sugar maples. This can cause trees to drop leaves early after turning brown. It's been so wet that the saps and the sugars are not all that concentrated in the leaves. The sugars are what create the leaves vibrant red colors. It's why many areas could have more pastel or muted leaf colors this year. 

Still, I found vibrant colors just by looking at the canal waters that flow through the park.

Luckily, the 325-acre Mine Falls Park is vehicle-free, aside from bicycles. The park includes forest, wetlands, and open fields; it is bordered on the North by the Nashua River and on the South by the Millpond and canal system.

Best of all, it's within walking distance of the mill apartments.

Falling for Autumn

It's the first of September today, which meant that it was time for the autumn decorations to re-appear outside our apartment entry. (I was tired of looking at summer ones about now.)

All of these decos were purchased over the past several years from the local Dollar Tree store back when they actually cost $1. Today, of course, these would cost a bit more at $1.25. The scarecrows, pumpkins wall hangings will stay around with the permanent penguin and frog until holiday and snowman decos appear in future months.

At the rate this year seems to be rushing by, that won't be too long. Here's an eye-opener: 

From today, Sept 1 to Dec 31— there's 122  days or 17 weeks, 3 days left in 2023.

We're thankful that several blogger FL friends and family were safe during the recent storm; but sad to read about those who did fare as well, especially in GA. Also, our condolences to the family of a friend who passed away from that sinister disease beginning with the letter "C."

This weekend, we're off on a new adventure that is not a road trip. Accordingly, blog reading and posting will be on hiatus for  a short time.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

Hug those close to you  &  ♥️ them; life is short

Fall Walk in the Park

A couple of weeks ago, daytime temperatures were perfect for a late fall walk in the park. It wasn't our usual walk in the very large Mine Falls Park, but in another city park.

Greeley Park is the largest inner city park in Nashua, NH extending 125 acres from the Merrimack River, across Concord Street to Manchester Street. The property was originally bought in 1801 by Joseph Greeley, who passed it on to his son after his death. The land was deeded to the city of Nashua in 1896 by Joseph Thornton Greeley, the grandson of the original Joseph Greeley. Upon his death in June 1881, it was announced that well-to-do farmer Joseph Thornton Greeley, grandson of the original Joseph Greeley,  had bequeathed his Concord Street farm to the city for future recreational space.

The growing city decided to utilize the land as a large park, which would provide relief and open space to the dense workforce housing near the river and enhance property values of mansions along Concord Avenue. 

A couple of years later, a parks commission was appointed and provided with funding. The city gave the commission $500 to start the process of turning the farm into a park. This was a huge undertaking for the funds allocated. Trees needed to be cut down, farm buildings had to be razed and a site work had to be completed. The parks commission became overwhelmed by the scope of the project and little was done. 

Progress stalled until 1908 when wealthy businessman and industrialist John Cotton, a city resident, donated $5,000 to build a fountain and pavilion with public bathrooms from stone found on the estate grounds. The donation was matched by city funds and progress was made to change the Greeley Farm into a public park with a gravel walk and flower beds and picnic tables in later years.

Back at the turn of the century, five thousand dollars went a long way towards making the park a reality. Back then, a local newspaper editorial chided city officials for the long delay while praising Cotton for jump-starting the project. 

Greeley Park hosts many citywide events, most are free to attend. These include the Fairy Tale Festival, Halloween Fright Night and an annual art show. Plays and music festivals are held at a bandstand in spring and summer months. The park includes hiking trails, horseshoe pits, ball fields, tennis courts, and a community garden area.

We were lucky enough to visit on a day when the daytime temperatures were in the mid-50s and not all of the trees had lost their leaves. The park is heavily populated during warmer months, but the day we walked there were only a few other visitors.

Fall Foliage Fotos

Foliage has hit its peak in many areas of New England, especially the colder northern parts of the state. The nor'easter that hung around for several days this week certainly didn't help any retain any leaves still remaining.

We did get on the road for a few day trips and an overnight stay in NH. Many of my foliage shots were taken on the road as a front seat navigator and passenger. This was taken somewhere between Nashua and Greenfield, NH.

As many of you know, it can be quite challenging to try and capture a good scene. Luckily there were no oncoming cars when this was taken on the way to Northwood State Park, NH.

The cars in this photo were far enough away to not be too distracting and thankfully there were no obtrusive power lines. The road's S-curve and that bright splash of red really caught my attention as we were traveling from Nashua to Hollis, NH.

Seeing a hood scenic and then finding a place to pull over for a capture sometimes can be equally challenging. This image was taken in Peterborough, NH.

This image was caotured in Jaffrey, NH, and, as seen, many trees were already devoid of any foliage. Still the ones remaining and the water reflects caught my attention. We stopped for downtown to check at a scarecrow display here, some will be seen in tomorrow's post.

Closer to home last weekend, these images were taken in Mine Falls Park, Nashua, NH, last weekend. 

While the colors were not nearly as spectacular as we've seen in recent years in the park, there was still splashes of fall colors. Mine Falls Park is within walking distance of the mill apts.

Are you knowledgeable about wild 'shrooms? The only mushrooms I know to safely consider edible are those available at the supermarket. That said there's a lot of variety in colors and shapes of those growing wild and safer to capture with a photo than a fork.

Thanks for coming along on this short (for me) NH foliage tour. As noted earlier, we've enjoyed  day and overnight trips in recent weeks. They've been fun, but my post backlog is longish now.