Friday, October 19, 2007

Autumn in the Shenandoah Valley ... falling leaves in western Augusta County

Drove the back roads of Pastures District in Augusta County today with the Staunton Republican Committee chairman. That's part of what makes SWAC work ... we all help each other ... and she was helping with campaign work in my District.

The leaves were gorgeous as we drove through the National Forest so we stopped at Augusta Springs Wetlands to admire the tree color and falling leaves. I was last there on August 20 when it was summer and everything was green as seen here and here.


We both had our cameras and were snapping photos of the changing foliage all around us. It was overcast with heavy clouds threatening rain but we ignored it and enjoyed strolling through the fallen leaves....

The entrance to Augusta Springs looked like a picture postcard ... I took a photo of my friend with the maple tree....

The stream is lower than last time I was there but it had not dried up. SWAC Niece had discovered hundreds of tapoles when we were there in August and, though there were not as many this time, the creek still held dozens of them.


The gathering area for school groups on the boardwalk....

The pond is low with a trickle from the spring. The picnic tables sit amongst the fallen leaves....


The spring in the side of the mountain bubbles up between two huge boulders. Fallen autumn leaves cover the surface....

Leaf-covered boardwalk invites visitors to walk the interpretative trail through the wetlands. I will send these photos to SWAC Niece so she can see the difference from when we visited at the end of summer....

Photos by SWAC Girl

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