Mute Swans…Magical Water (a Photo Essay)

Saturday was one of those perfect autumn days here in the Northeast. The air was crisp and cool and the foliage was just slightly past peak. Leaves were falling from the trees, some floating like feathers, and the water was glowing as it reflected the gorgeous colors.

I was at Speedwell Park in Morristown, NJ, with a friend, an Indonesian woman, who had never seen leaves changing color and she was awed by it. Strangely enough, so was I–even though I’ve seen it many, many times over the years.

I guess it’s something that one never tires of. Although autumn means that winter (of which I’m not a fan) is right around the corner, I think it’s just as beautiful as spring. It looks and feels very different, however. While spring is a time of new beginnings, fall is a time of slowing down, settling down and preparing for that long rest.

Mute Swans and Their Silent Reflections

We saw some geese and ducks, but then, we spotted these Mute Swans. We stopped walking and talking and just took in their beauty as they glided on the cool water. Their pure white contrasted against the reflection of the foliage and its beautiful patterns.

While writing this post, I learned that these swans were brought to this country from Europe in the late 1800s. Wealthy residents of in the Northeast, especially Long Island and the Hudson Valley, kept them as pets on their ponds. Unfortunately, it turns out that they’re invasive; they eat the underwater plants that the native species need. To read more about them, click here.

Being out in nature is always a pleasure and Saturday was no exception. It was the first time in a long time that I felt relaxed–and that’s a good thing. Maybe I’m getting in tune with the season, slowing down along with it.

Your Thoughts/Experiences?

Do you have a special place you like to visit to view the foliage? If so, where?

Do you find that you’re in tune with the seasons? Do you get giddy about spring, but slow down at the end of fall, in anticipation of the winter? Or are you consistently the same throughout the year, just enjoying but not being influenced by the seasons? And which do you prefer–fall or spring–and why? Or are you more of a winter or summer person?

Also, is there a beauty spot in nature,  maybe in your hometown, that you’ve seen many times over the years but never tire of? If so, where?

I love the park where these photos were taken, but there’s a place I love even more–the Ken Lockwood Gorge in Califon, NJ. Here’s a post I wrote about it a couple of years ago called ‘Fall Into the Moment.’ It includes similar watery images, spiritual reflections and poetry.