Back to Leaming's Run

This week the weather was so perfect, a little cool and no humidity, I decided to try another walk through Leaming's Run. I had only managed it once before this summer. I took my faithful Hugo walker of course.


As I handed my season pass to the woman at the entrance, she asked me if I was afraid of snakes. No, not at all. She explained that she had seen a little black snake just a few minutes before. I have not seen many snakes at Leaming's, but have spotted one or two. They usually disappear from the path very quickly if a human approaches, but once I did manage to photograph a rather large one, sunning itself on the railing of a bridge over the Run.




Some of the flowers were beginning to fade as autumn arrived, but most were still very beautiful. I did take pictures of some, but this time I directed most of my attention to trees and moss and ferns, and as always, I love the shadows they create on the paths. This picture to the left was taken while I was in the center of the bamboo.





















I had no appointments and expected no visitors, so took my time wandering along, and often stopped and sat in Hugo for a while, just absorbing the beauty around me. I spent just over two hours from start to finish. There were very few other visitors while I was there. I did see Emily Aprill briefly, but Jack and their sons did not make an appearance. I was a little sorry, because I enjoy talking with them, and this day I would have been interested to ask them questions about the humming birds. No birds were to be seen either. I guess they have left on their migration, but I wanted to ask where their nests had been. I've never seen one up close, and they are so tiny that I could not find one.




I saw a few butterflies. One monarch was very obliging about posing for me.





















Near the gazebo, I noticed how beautifully the sky was reflected in the water of Leaming's Run.

Just beyond this, I paused to photograph the bridge. Don't you love the shadows?


I didn't notice at first, but at the far end, there was a small brown snake lying in the sun. As I started along the boards, it took off fast. I wasn't quite fast enough, but caught just a picture of his tail.





If you look closely you may make him out in the bridge picture.











I thoroughly enjoyed the day.








........................................................................................

Just want to add -

I stole a video from another blog. It came from i beati and I hope she doesn't mind.
It is a wonderful video showing the hand feeding of a ruby throated hummingbird, and you will find it all the way at the bottom of this page. Take a few minutes and enjoy it.