Leelanau Hills, Water, and Fall Color

I headed out to take pictures on another gray afternoon, but the weather report had indicated the sun would break through around 3 pm.  It didn't exactly turn out that way, but there was still plenty of fall color.  For the most part, I focused on some of the vistas from the many high points in the county.

On my way to Northport's biggest hill, I noticed the lovely reflections of fall color at the Mill Pond.

The colors had become more muted in the last few days at Braman Hill, but they still set off the landscape leading to the Bay and Northport Point.

Omena Bay is always lovely, but, again, the colors had begun to lose their vibrancy.

Continuing south on M-22 towards Suttons Bay, I'd heard the hills atop Dumas Road provided a vista of the whole bay area.  Here Stoney Point stands out in the foreground, with Old Mission Point behind it.

Continuing to hope for sunshine, I headed across the county on M-204.  I could see the fall color was lovely around Lake Leelanau from a hilly neighborhood near M-22.

Between Glen Arbor and Empire, I decided to enter the Pierce Stocking Drive.  My first stop was at Alligator Hill, with Glen Lake in the foreground, and Little Glen in the background, separated by M-22.

My last (and favorite) stop of the day was at North Bar Lake, with Lake Michigan and the Empire Bluffs in the background.  On my drive back to Northport, I thought about the beauty of the color this fall, but bemoaned the lack of sunshine...at least until this weekend.

As I neared Leland, I noticed there was a narrow break just above the horizon in the dense gray clouds.  I raced into Fishtown, and was able to capture a sliver of the sunset...the only sight of the sun the whole day. 

Peaking Fall Colors Trump the Gray Skies

As a youngster, my family often went for rides on Sunday afternoons.  My dad would drive us all around the countryside.  We'd listen to the radio and he'd often sing or whistle along with whatever was playing.  Sometimes we'd go visit our cousins or we'd watch the planes take off at the airport.  We'd often end the afternoon at Sullivan's for ice cream.  Dad's favorite flavor was black sweet cherry and mine was orange sherbet.  It's hard to believe that he's been gone 38 years as of yesterday.  These family afternoon rides were probably the genesis for two of my own loves:  driving around the Leelanau Peninsula and eating ice cream.  The dogs know it's ride time whenever I pick up my camera bag.  They run to the back door, jockeying for position, not wanting to be left behind.  And there's not a better time for driving around than during fall color season.  Whether subtle or bright, this year's fall colors have been a delight. 

Vistas Burst with Color

The sunshine and blue skies have made the fall colors really pop!

Fall Begins to Show its Colors

Even with a week of wet, gray skies, fall colors are beginning to show themselves.

Deer Changes Reflect the Coming of Fall

I put out feed blocks for my deer over the spring and summer, but in greatly reduced amounts since they are mostly able to fend for themselves in the food department.  But with the advent of fall, I've stepped up my feeding program and they've returned to more regular visits.  I can't help but see how their appearances reflect the coming of fall.

While they are used to me being in the yard and at the window, they are still watchful of me as I photograph them through the window.  I'm amazed at how big the fawns have grown.

When one of the fawns wanders off on its own, I can't help but notice how its spots have faded to just a few on its rump.  The spots no longer are needed for camouflage as the fawns move toward young adulthood.

When another doe, Grandma Lucy, I think, joins in to share the deer block, I'm struck at how she's well into her gray-brown heavier winter coat.  The other doe shows evidence of molting on her side, but her process of growing a winter coat is slower because she's been lactating to feed her fawns.  I've learned that lactating and molting are both very demanding in energy consumption so the doe must finish one to begin the other.

My first visit at the feed block from a young buck showed that the males were undergoing their own changes.  Sporting his velvety antlers signaled his preparation for the upcoming fall rut.

And this dandy buck turned his head away from me, making sure I saw his antlers from all directions.