The Story of One Maple

 

Oct. 27, 2021 Maple Leaf neighborhood

Our days of high winds and heavy rain did a number on many trees. When I walked around Green Lake today, I saw lots of newly bald trees as well as torn limbs strewn across the path.

I went to check out the same maple in the ‘hood that I’ve been watching: Just a few yellow leaves are barely hanging on. This is probably the last time I’ll sketch it this year, but if I remember next spring, I’ll continue this story of one maple.

Previous sketches are shown below.

Oct. 21, 2021

Oct. 12, 2021

Sidetracked by Color

10/10/16 Greenwood neighborhood

Driving through the Greenwood neighborhood yesterday afternoon, I was actually heading for my favorite traffic circle to see if our recent heavy rain had taken down the maple leaves. But I never made it that far, because I took a turn onto a street I don’t usually take – and stopped dead in my tracks. Though mostly bald on top, these two maples still blazed with color, going out with a big bang.

A similar sidetracking happened today, when I was walking across the University of Washington campus. I was on my way to the Quad, which is one of my favorite places to sketch during cherry blossom season. (It turned out the cherries were disappointing – mostly green but turning straight to brown instead of yellow and orange first.) On my way back to the car, I passed Paccar Hall, where a yellow tree (wish I knew what kind it is) was afire in the high sun. I went up to Paccar’s third floor terrace to sketch it.

We are having the most amazing autumn this year, aren't we?

10/11/16 UW campus

Before They Fall Off

This time last year, the trees were blazing with color. Conditions must not be ideal this Fall, because the leaves on many trees seem to be going straight to brown. Still, I’ve been seeing enough red maples and yellow aspens that I’ve been eager to sketch as many as I can before all their leaves fall off. Here are several trees I’ve sketched this week in the Green Lake, Maple Leaf and Roosevelt neighborhoods.

Green Lake

Green Lake

From the parking lot of St. Catherine of Siena Parish,
Maple Leaf neighborhood

In front of Whole Foods at 65th & Roosevelt

Cold Columbia City

We were freezing! I sat next to Steve and Jackie, but turned to look down Rainier toward
these backlit trees.