Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Nockamixon State Park - Autumn

Yesterday evening, I went hiking at Nockamixon State Park located near Quakertown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The park surrounds a resevoir along the Tohickon Creek. It is a large park consisting of 5,283 acres surrounding a 1,450 acre lake. Below are some scenes from my hike. It was a mostly cloudy evening with temperatures in the fifties or slightly lower. I was on the Bedminster side hiking off of Kellers Church Road.


This year many leaves fell before the real color change began to take place as can be seen in this photo. I took the photo with a zoom lense at 300mm looking over Lake Nockamixon to the forested hills on the other side of the lake.


This photo is located on the same lake side I was hiking. Note the great blue heron near the autumn red leaf tree.


I had hiked a distance off the path and was struck by the colorful leaves on the forest bed.


I don't know what kind of tree this is; but I loved its yellow fruit.



A tree leaf view from underneath



A side view



Red berries against the leave-matted ground



One of my favorite autumn leaves

19 comments:

Cergie said...

Oh yes, all the pictures of this post are beautiful (particularly the ones at the top). Autumn is so inspiring !
The blue heron is a protected specie in europe and actually it's a great problem because it eats all the little fishes in the ponds and the rivers.
It's really very, very, voracious

Icarus said...

Hello Tim, first thanks for your comment to my place and have some grapes - don't you just want to get them down & eat them?!

I Find it endlessly fascinating to "visit" some new place in the world that I don't know & I've already learned alot just by looking down these last 20 or so pics - mostly, once more, how different it is there to here.
The blue heron across the river by the russet tree has to be my favorite. 2 clicks to maximize the size brought out a much stronger effect, as always. I wonder if you felt like I often do with nature shots, the big "If only..." I had at least a 500mm to cut out all the unnecessary & get in close? Then, this would have been a real classic, with superb mood. Maybe you can still crop it in?
And the variety of colours in the leaves, next pic down. Also the pumkins earlier!

Anonymous said...

Great pictures. Thanks for sharing them with us folk down here in the Southwest who don't have trees and leaves.

Anonymous said...

Fall sure is pretty. At least it is until all the leafs fall of and rot and it's raining all the time.

sage said...

I'm always a bit sad when the trees are mostly barren and just a few trees are left with their fall colors (I'm sad because the brillance of the fall has past and because I know I have a long date with a rake).

Anonymous said...

Thanks! Because of you, I am able to vicariously experience the wonders of fall. c",)

Reflex said...

Beautiful fall shots! I really like the heron one and the last, so natural and intense contrasting colors.

mreddie said...

Excellent photos and colors - the yellow berries look a bit like those of a flowering pear tree. ec

Tim Rice said...

Thanks, cergie. Autumn has its bright colors before the duller colors of winter.

Hi, mile stones. I'll take you up on your offer of grapes. In reality I often do eat grapes five days a week as a part of lunch at work. I also find it fascinating to visit other parts of the world through other people's blogs. I learn a lot that way. And while there are differences, I find that us people all over the world really also have a lot in common if we only stop and recognize it. And yes I often do wish that I had a longer zoom lense. Perhaps, some day. :) And I think the leaves of the forest floor is one of my favorite photos.

Hi, kevin stilley. Glad you enjoy the trees and leaves from up here and glad that I can share them with you via this blog.

Hi, choochoo. Fall is pretty. Don't you get snow a lot of the time in late fall and winter? Here, it generally doesn't rain all the time; and occasionally we will get snow - sometimes lots of it, sometimes very little. But I like to have one big blizzard a year where everything gets shut down for a day or two. :)

Hi, sage. Yes, leaf raking can get old quick and winter has its duller colors. But each season has its beauty and its detractions though I must say I'm beginning to appreciate late spring through early fall more and more each year. :)

Hi, irene. It's a joy to be able to help you vicariously experience autumn. And it's always a joy to have you drop by my blog.

Thanks, reflex. I love the depth and intensity of color in those pictures, too.

Thanks, mreddie. You just might be right about that tree being a flowering pear. Back in the early 1970s when I was just a little kid, that land used to be mostly farm land before they built the dam for the reservoir and established Nockamixon State Park. Now with all the development going on, I am glad that the dam was built which resulted in this state park. Otherwise, much of it probably would be going up in housing developments.

Manuel Tendero Gil said...

hola bonitos colores de otoño un saludo

Anonymous said...

lovely pics.....loved the yellow fruit and yellow leaves pics....

Ginnie Hart said...

Great, great pics, Tim, of my favorite time of the year. You live in such a gorgeous part of your state, that's for sure!

spicebear said...

the pictures sure are beautiful. i especialy like the second one, truly awesome!

Sarad said...

You live in paradise. there is so much of nature around you.

Tim Rice said...

Thanks, faye pekas. I'm glad to share walks in nature here for all my blog visitors. It's a way for me to share some of the blessings I enjoy with others.

Hola, manuel tendero gil. Gracias por tu visita. El otoño tiene muchos colores bonitos. Está inspirante. Saludos.

Thanks, moi. They caught my attention, too, as I was on my walk.

Thanks, ginnie. There is so much to see and enjoy around here. I am blessed.

Thanks, spicebear. I'm glad I can provide you and others with a vicarious experience of my area.

Hi, sarad. I do live in a paradise, don't I? I need to count my blessings. But believe me there is much town and suburban life around me, too, along with the traffic and population congestion that brings. But I am still blessed.

Judypatooote said...

I'm catching up on reading my blogs....I just love leaves, they have such beauty in them....that one picture of leaves on the ground is so different...the coloring that is....all your pictures are wonderful to look at....

Tim Rice said...

Thanks, judypatootie. Leaves do have a special beauty all their own.

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...

Your fall colors are lovely and that picture of just the fallen leaves was so pretty...I would never dream that it would be so colorful.

Charley & Marianne said...

Greetings from China!!!

As always I just love your photos. I love Fall, so I especially like the these shots!!!

Thanks for visiting our Joshua blog!