Golden October

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Sara Catherine

Happy October! Another one of my favorite months. October is the heart of Fall, I think, when the leaves are at their colorful peak, the temperatures are comfortable, and there are so many fun Fall activities to enjoy — hiking, biking, apple and pumpkin-picking, hayrides, and, of course, Halloween! It truly is one of my favorite parts of the year.

I started off October at the cottage. The weather was unseasonably warm — which will unfortunately become the norm, I suppose — and the summer-like temperatures juxtaposed the silence in the air, with many birds either leaving for their migration or just not being as active outside of mating-season. The silence was only broken by the occasional goose-call — likely the flock that overwinters in the river each winter, moving in to claim their spot — and the loud thuds and pops of black walnuts falling from the trees. A helmet is needed for walks through the woods this time of year!

The walnut husks and falling leaves leave a musky, woodsy scent in the air. A deep breath in the morning or evening fills me with the energy of the woods beginning their descent into the darker, restful months. The lightest breeze causes colorful leaves to gently rain down, and more walnuts to crash into the ground or on the shed roof. Some mornings bring fog, a spooky, ethereal mist hovering over the mountains, the fields, the river, and in-between the trees. Perhaps these little moments of magic are part of why Halloween is in October — there’s a mystical energy all around, and it’s impossible to not feel inspired by all the magic.

And the colors, the colors! Not just the amber, gold and crimson of leaves, but also the gold, purple and white of goldenrod and asters in the fields. I was overcome with emotion when I saw all these beautiful flowers in a meadow at one of my favorite parks, bees and butterflies flying all about. How can anyone call these native plants weeds? With their gorgeous colors, and the huge amount of pollinators they attract, how could anyone not find them beautiful and breathtaking and worthy of protection?

At this park, I found a nice hammock spot at the edge of the field, where the woods begin before getting dense. At golden hour, the field is washed in gold, and the colors of the trees and wildflowers pop. I love to swing in the hammock here and watch the clouds, sky and ground change from gold to red to purple, the colors of Fall. On the ground where the forest begins, the tiniest of pine saplings sprout out from the leaves. Where they came from, I have no idea, as I have yet to see another pine tree around. But how small they are amazes me — less than half-an-inch! To think they will grow to be giants one day, if we protect them.

October is such a beautiful month to hike. As I walk to set up my hammock or to visit the river in the cottage’s backyard, I relish the sound and feeling of the leaves crunching beneath my feet, as the chilly air kisses my cheeks and nose, bidding me and autumn welcome. A lot of my hikes this month were special, but I’ll save you from a super-long post and tell you about two of them.

The first was actually the last Friday of September, but close enough to October and this season. It was the day of the Full Moon in Aries, which brought heavy, long, and devastating rains to the state. There was severe flooding in many areas, but despite the risk, I was determined to go for a hike at another favorite park once the rain let up. I wanted to see the stream that flows through the park and how the rain had impacted it. Luckily, I encountered no flooding, but the brook was high and rushing quickly. While watching the water rush by, I remembered a concept of lunar gardening: during the full moon, it is believed all water levels, such as ground water, is affected similar to the ocean’s tides. I realized that this full moon — in aggressive go-getter Aries, no less — was partly why these rains were so devastating and why there was so much flooding elsewhere. The rain added to already higher levels of water was sure to cause devastation.

But as I watched the water flow, the waterfall by the lake’s crash and roar, I saw a beauty in the storm. It’s powerful, it’s intense, it’s scary. But it sure is beautiful.

The second hike was at my other favorite park, on one of the hotter days. To cool off, I wore my Chacos and waded in the river for a bit. With my feet submerged, I breathed in the beauty of the river. The lullaby of the water flowing by. The hues of the leaves just starting to change color. The cry of a nearby bird. My eyes were drawn to the little “waterfalls” nearby. When looking for large waterfalls and big rapids, you can sometimes miss the tiny ones, tucked beneath a small pile of rocks or a fallen branch along the river. They’re just as gorgeous, peaceful and tranquil, rather than powerful and mighty. This, I thought to myself, is peace.

As we move through October, I hope you get a chance to go out and explore what beauty the month holds for you and in your area. For October is truly one of the most beautiful months. Breathe in the musky scent on the wind, listen to the leaves rustle, and invite the crisp air to give you a kiss. Embrace all the magic that October brings.

Some other musings from October and autumn, and, of course, photos:

On the last day of summer, Peter and I foraged goldenrod, a perfect way to honor the last rays of the summer sun, captured in this lovely wild herb’s yellow flowers. I’m infusing the goldenrod in local honey, which is a great ally for autumn allergies. I purposefully chose the final day of summer to forage as a way to preserve the summer energy. When winter rolls around and we mix a spoonful of honey in our tea or baked goods or on toast, we’ll be reminded of the sunlight and longer days. Perhaps this will become a tradition moving forward, a way of saying a final goodbye to summer as autumn arrives.

Peter and I also went foraging for wild mushrooms on a foraging hike led by Dan from The Foraged Feast, who was featured in my most recent Black River Journal article. Ourselves and a group of wild food enthusiasts of all ages followed Dan through the woods of Whittemore CCC, and found oyster mushrooms, chicken fat mushrooms, black walnuts, and sassafras. We also got to pick some of Dan’s cultivated shiitake mushrooms. Back at the apartment, we dried our chicken fat mushrooms for future use, and enjoyed the other mushrooms in stir-fry and pasta dishes all week long. What a fun adventure!

Peter and I also saw one of my favorite bands, The Crane Wives, in concert this month! Their music is filled with folktales and autumn vibes, a perfect band to listen to in October — they even have a song named after the month!