homesique

The bloggers in Ne England are all writing about the changing of the leaves, it seems. 2002 was the last time I was home between September and Mid-December. I miss the changing of summer to Autumn very badly. One of my favorite memories of this time was the ride out to the open ocean every morning with The Notorious B.O.B., cutting between Slate and Grape Islands in Boston Harbor, plus the pass through Hull Gut, where the trees on the eroded hillside of Peddock's Island would stand far above us. At that time of year, we were beginning to step the lobster pots offshore, which allowed for a lot of steam time and a longer ride to the gear in the morning, and consequently, a longer ride home in the afternoon. Long enough that I could get my head out of the bait bins and take a break from making up bait bags and enjoy the scenery.
The Islands of Boston Harbor, at least the ones that haven't been leveled, paved and neutered so that quadripelegics won't have to strain their wheelchair batteries, are what I would characterize ecologically as modestly disturbed- that is, there is a great diversity of trees, the ground cover is mostly made up of scrub trees such as Rhus and Betula sp. (alder and birch, to you), and the dominant species of trees aren't numerous, as the ecology gets mussed up periodically by weather, WWII construction, Civil War construction, WWI POW camps, etc, etc. The diversity of trees allows for a diversity of colors, which all are beautiful, especially in their Island location, surrounded by sea. Those memories of being a lobsterman when I was younger really stay with me... that and the ability to stick my head in a barrel of rotten bait and not barf.

I would guess that Hurricane Kyle is going to do for the foliage show in most of New England. Hopefully there will be something to see for you folks after that's over. Any blogger from home reading this, if you take some pics beforehand, I would be appreciative!