September 21 is the first day of fall and though this month has been warmer than usual, the nights are cooling off. As a result, Mother Nature begins to paint her fall canvas. The angle of the sun and the clouds make the light dance across the valley, often creating rainbows.
The yellows, rusts and tans are seen in the fields, grasses, cottonwoods and aspen; the green is still there in evergreen trees and foliage near streams and wetter draws; and the reds are beginning to show in the ninebark, currants, and chokecherry leaves and fruit. There is even blue in the elderberry fruit.
Color is displayed in plants and in animals as you will see in the slideshow below. See the lush green ferns that provide cover for the white-tailed deer. Later the ferns will turn a copper color and do an even better job of hiding the deer. Various dragonflies perch on golden grasses and vibrant pine trees. Deciduous trees show a variety of colors as the leaves change and fruits ripen in presentation as food for critters such as Ruffed Grouse and bear looking to fatten up for hibernation.
Exotic species – not native to Montana - contribute, too. The pheasant hen’s feathers match the color of the drying fields. A turkey hen’s throat glows as a beam of sunlight lights it up.
This is September 2009 and its own unique year and weather pattern. Visits again as more photos and descriptions throughout this Montana fall are posted.
Take a virtual walk through the Bitterroot Valley through these slideshows and watch the colors change even more in October and November.
To see all the photos in a new window click Merle's SmugMug photos - Bitterroot Fall Sept 2009
References:
Montana Field Guide by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Montana Plant Life.org
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