Autumn Color On Route 56 Sevey Corners And Colton

The dogs and I had just finished three short trails (see previous five posts) and were back in the car, headed for home on State Route 56. The autumn color along the way was once again so magnificent that I grabbed my camera to share some of it with you:

The big trees here were green but the shrubby growth was red and orange:

And individual trees stood out like flames amidst the green:

Deep, ruby red behind a marshy area:

As brilliant as if they were lit from the inside:

More magnificence:

A forest of color, set off behind the green which was closer to the road:

Autumn color around a pond:

A mixture of colors:

Hardwood color in front of green pines:

Another pond, surrounded by color:

And an extensive marsh, backed up by colorful autumn forest. But we were on our way home, so I put my camera away and concentrated on my driving:

Autumn Color On Route 56 Between Colton And Sevey Corners

Our cold, wet spell of weather finally went away and we entered into a sunny, warm period. I took the dogs southward, down State Route 56, to three short trails I'd read about. But on the way, I was impressed with the autumn beauty all along the road and decided to take some pictures:

I turned south on Route 56 at the town of Colton, and quite soon noticed the brilliant display all around me:

This was a favorite of mine - a green, grassy hillside surrounded by colorful trees and with a river at road level:

Stripes and spots of color stood out like flames amidst the usual green of the hillsides:

With the great variety of colors, putting me in mind of fireworks or confetti:

These tall, red trees were distinctive:

Autumn glory, reaching for the sky:

I imagined hearing the 1812 Overture in the background:

A more placid, serene scene along a pond:

The forests here are extensive:

Back behind a marsh, the autumn color was beginning to take over:

And this broad marsh was backed by autumn color. But it was time for me to find the first trail head, and I'll post about that tomorrow:

Chapter 1, Cathedral Rock Fire Tower

I'd driven up to the farm on Sunday and spent the night. Early Monday morning I loaded the four youngest dogs into the car and headed southwest toward the tiny town of Sevey Corners (click on label below to see previous post on Sevey Corners) and turned west onto Route 3. I found the unmarked trail head for Cathedral Rock, parked the car and began hiking past extensive wetlands:

The dogs were ecstatic. Just look at Fergus' ears flopping!:

As we passed beyond the wetlands, Spruces, Pines, Balsams and Tamaracks rose up to form a sort of canyon through which we walked:

We made a couple of turns, always going uphill. That was sure to be the best method for finding the fire tower:

I passed this plant in many places which looked very much like a strawberry, but with narrower leaves and petals. I never did get it identified. Maybe I'll come back in a few weeks and look for fruit:

Seamus plodded uphill steadfastly, but agile little Clover danced around like a canine elf, running uphill and downhill, through the forest and along the trail. She smelled and tasted everything. Ah, the energy of youth!:

And then I was stopped in my tracks by the sight of a Foxglove in bloom. Not just any old Foxglove, but a snow white flower. It was magnificent:

Onward we hiked, enjoying the sunshine and mild temperatures:

Clover stopped to graze like a miniature Holstein:

And then I found more Foxgloves, all of them the normal (and beautiful) purple color:

Ferns lined much of the trail:

I stopped to snap a photo of this butterfly but was unable to identify it when I got home. But I found a website which offers photos, descriptions and a checklist for identifying butterflies and moths. When I still couldn't figure out what it was, I took advantage of their offer to ID them for its readers. I emailed them the photo and received an answer within several hours. They told me that this is a Northern Pearly-Eye. The website is "Butterflies And Moths Of North America" (click here). Click here to find out more about the Northern Pearly-Eye. Click here to see my submission, which has been confirmed as a sighting which they will use to catalog range, seasonal movements, population density, etc:

Tiny Sevey Corners, New York

We had hiked up Mount Arab to the fire tower and back down (see previous three posts) and were on our way back to the farm. The dogs were sprawled out, recovering their strength for whatever the next adventure might be. But when I arrived at Sevey Corners, I knew I had to snap a few photos:

Sevey Corners is not listed on most maps. I'd even say it was smaller than Conifer, New York - and that's saying something. Most of the homes I saw were woodsy structures, some of which may have been summer camps instead of year 'round dwellings:

All them were obviously owned by people who valued the experience of living in a forest:

I think that this is a place I'd enjoy living. The houses were not too close together and the scenery was superb:

Surrounded by Pines and Birches, this home looked comfortable and welcoming:

I couldn't tell if this was a full time home or a vacation cabin. I suppose it could have been either:

And of course there had to be a log home or two. I couldn't help wonder, however, where these people worked and how long was their commute?:

This place looked more like a camp but then it was a Monday and someone was there, so maybe it was a full time residence, Cute, isn't it?:

As I pulled back onto the highway, I passed this group (or rafter, or gang) of turkeys alongside the road. It consisted of two adults and about eight poults:

And I figured that the Backwoods Inn was on the boundary line for what could be called Sevey Corners. I snapped a photo and continued on my way back toward the farm: