A young poplar tree with superb staying power! All of the other trees lost their foliage by late October. This guy is still holding on–his leaves are as bright green as they were mid-summer!

The old saying “there’s one in every crowd” certainly holds true for this hardy fellow!

The weather has been unusually warm in Renfrew County this November. The last few days have been rainy and dreary–the hallmarks of the month of November in this region.

I have a lovely patch of Pampas Grass growing alongside my driveway, and when the sun shines the plumes look like fuzzy white flags against the blue sky background. I brought a fluffy bouquet inside, which will last for the whole winter.

Each season brings something special to enjoy and cherish in the lovely Ottawa Valley of Eastern Ontario, Canada!

.

The peak of our fall season is over and the spectacular display of fall colors have now faded into a dull, monotonous gray as we wait patiently for the first snowfall to cover our fields and woods in a sparkling white coat of snow. Now, don’t jump to conclusions here – while I like the look of the snow, I didn’t say that I liked shoveling the stuff.

Until it arrives I will continue to enjoy my cross-country rambles and walks through the beautiful Upper Ottawa Valley of Renfrew County. I recently took these photos of these lovely fungi that were found growing on some trees on the periphery of our property.

Autumn is such a lovely time in Renfrew County. The trees turn glorious shades of red, yellow and orange. With the contrasting background of the dark green coniferous trees, the area is a photographer’s paradise. Renfrew County is blessed with an abundance of lakes and rivers that form a picturesque background for nature’s display of fall colors.

If you are in the area be sure to check out the numerous church dinners, fall events and of course, the upcoming Christmas Craft Sales. Renfrew County has more than its fair share of talented artists and crafts-people. If you like top quality hand woven shrugs, jackets, shawls, table clothes, handbags and home decor, you really must see what Shirley Murphy of Hummingbird Weaving Studio in Barry’s Bay, Ontario, has to offer at some of the coming sales.

How quickly the seasons change. The sun is setting about 4 minutes earlier each night as we sink deeper in to autumn with each passing day. Often our fields are cloaked in a gentle foggy mist upon arising each morning. There is a slight chill in the air when we draw the day to a close, pull the curtains and tuck in for the night. Eddie, our unicyclist, was quite indignant to find himself covered in cobwebs and dripping with dew on a recent September morn.

One of the highlights of the fall season in Renfrew County and the Ottawa Valley is the annual Rural Ramble through the Ottawa Valley. This year is the 15th anniversary for this event, which is being held this weekend, September 26 & 27, 2009, from 10:00 a.mm to 4:00 p.m.

Take a minute to visit the official rural ramble website for details at:

http://www.ottawavalley.travel/Things_to_Do/Rural_Ramble.html

If you would like to experience some of the highlights of Valley Living, you will find it a delightful experience to participate in this great valley tradition.