FALL ONA COUNTRY ROAD

OUR 1/2 MILE LONG DRIVEWAY IN THE FALL IS LOADED WITH LIFE.

I THINK THIS TOAD HAS A CRUSH ON ME.

THE ONLY FLOWERS STILL BLOOMING ON OUR PRAIRIE ARE THE STIFF GOLENROD AND THE NEW ENGLAND ASTERS. THE BEES AND BEEFLIES ARE ALL OVER THEM.

THE HIGHBUSH CRANBERRY BUSHES ARE FULL OF BERRIES. THEY BIRDS DO NOT SEEM TO TOUCH THESE UNTIL THE NEXT SPRING-WHY??

TIGER SALAMANERS ARE NOW MIGRATING ACROSS OUR DRIVEWAY TO FIND A SPOT IN A MUD BOTTOM POND OR RIVER.

RED-BELLIED SNAKES ARE REDDISH-BROWN ON TOP AND BRIGHT RED ON THE UNDER-SIDE. THEY ARE QUITE COMMON IN FORESTVILLE TOWNSHIP OF FILLMORE COUNTY MN. BUT ARE VERY SPOTTY IN THIER DISTRIBUTION. THE YOUNG ARE THE SIZE OF A NIGHT CRAWLER WHEN THEY MIGRATE ACROSS OUR DRIVEWAY. HARMLESS TO HUMANS.

RATTLESNAKES ARE BECOMING LESS COMMON AND ARE HAVING TROUBLE REPRODUCING-ONE THEORY IS THAT THERE ARE SO FEW OF THEM LEFT THAT THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TROUBLE FINDING THE OPPOSITE SEX TO MATE. THE LAST RATTLESNAKE ON OUR PROPERTY WAS TAKEN BEFORE WE LIVED THERE IN 1973. A RATTLESNAKE WAS RUNOVER ABOUT 2 MILES FROM OUR PLACE LESS THAT 5 YEARS AGO.

GARTER SNAKES ARE VERY COMMON. THEY LOVE THE SUN AND ARE VERY COMMON TO SEE IN THE FALL. THEY EAT MANY INSECTS THAT WE DO NOT LIKE. TOTALLY HARMLESS TO HUMANS.

JUNCOS HAVE JUST ARRIVED FROM NOTHERN MINNESOTA AND THEY WILL SPEND ALL WINTER WITH US. ANYONE THAT FEEDS WINTER BIRDS WILL HAVE JUNCOS AT THIER FEEDER. THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN LAST WINTER.

THIS FUNGI IS ABOUT 4 INCHES TALL AND ITS JUICE KILLS FLIES. IT IS TOXIC TO HUMANS AND IS FOUND AROUND CONIFERS AND HARDWOODS.

THIS TINY SHREW HAS A BODY THAT IS ABOUT ONE INCH LONG AND IS REALLY A LITTLE PREDITOR THAT EATS INSECTS AND WORMS. WE FOUND HIM ON OUR DRIVEWAY, BUT HE APPEARED UNDAMAGED.

MY DOG CHASED THIS RACOON UP A TREE A WHILE AGO. THERE HAVE BEEN AN UNUSUAL NUMBER OF DEAD RACOONS ON THE ROADSIDE THIS YEAR.

THIS NIGHTHAWK WAS FOUND ALONG CTY RD 5 AND WAS PROBABLY HIT BY A CAR. NIGHTHAWKS ARE NOT HAWKS BUT ARE RELATED TO WHIP-POR-WILLS AND MIGRATE SOUTH IN THE FALL.

DEER MICE LIKE TO MOVE INTO OUR OLD HOUSE IN THE FALL. THIS ONE WAS WAITING FOR US TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR HIM.

WASPS BECOME QUITE COMMON ON OUR SCREENS IN THE FALL. THEY SELDOM STING.

ROOT RIVER ON DUST, LAZY, FALL DAY

FORESTVILLE AREA ON SUNNY FALL DAY

JUST OUTSIDE FORESTVILLE PARK ON A DAY WHEN THE AIR WAS FILLED WITH DUST-EVEN THEN THE TREES LOOKED GREAT

TURNER HILL SOUTH OF WYKOFF MN

FALL IN N.E. MINNESOTA AND ALONG THE N. SHORE

GROUSE ALONG HIKING TRAIL BESIDE THE TEMPERANCE RIVER

FOREST AROUND LAKE BENSON IN N.E. MINNESOTA

TEMPERANCE RIVER ABOVE THE RAPIDS AND WATERFALLS

TEMPERANCE RIVER JUST ABOVE THE MAIN RAPIDS AND WATERFALLS