Page 5 - 16 May 2025

THE REPORTER 16 MAY 2025 · PAGE 5

The present Autumn season any where else. I can safely
showcases the beauty of our say that in the sixty odd years
beloved Barkly District. that I have had the privilege
The famed fall of the of farming here that the
American New England is present “Fall” is scenically
lauded for the hues of gold the most beautiful I have
on display with a few shades experienced.
of red to break the monotony The Ash trees as usual are
of the overwhelming spec- the first to change colour
trum between yellow and which they do completely
gold. However our fall covers overnight and also one of the
the “full monty” of the longest to retain their vivid
ranges of colours in the yellow plumage. colour from outwards
spectrum. Our mountains in The single ash planted by inwardly and from the top
themselves are, with their Paul Sephton above the downwards which are
ever changing interplay of homestead on Pitlochrie is
shadows across them as always my harbinger of normally a beautiful mixture
of yellow and green when the
certain features are brought Autumn and Winter only first heavy frost of Winter
into prominence and then starts after it loses itS leaves together with its cold front
recede into the blue with the heavy winds associated winds start
shadows, are in themselves a associated with the winter stripping the last remaining
full spectrum of all these cold fronts allowing it to leaves on the ground to add
colours throughout the year blend into the background. to the golden carpet that has
without the golden hues but The groves of Robinias, and been forming there.
these are provided by some Grey Poplars which have
indigenous bushes in invaded sheltered situations At the same time the berry
Autumn. together with the Crack bearing Cotoneasters and
This year the first frosts of the willows along the streams Phyrecanthers in hedges or
season are abnormally late have added their yellows to as undergrowth in the groves gradually are turning into which contrary to the
as our first spell of frosts the scene. as well as the Briars whose .While the trees are creating brilliant green to balance the perception that we are
usually occurs in April The stately avenues of yellow leaves have already their spectacle the grasses green of the Pines and experiencing an excep-
followed by an “Indian Lombardy poplars, the been shed, become covered and the bushes have also put Cypresses. In the back- tionally wet period, in reality
S u m m e r ” M a y. A f t e r Oaks, the Cotton Woods, the in long sprigs of red, orange on their show. ground the sparkling rivers we are experiencing a lot
sufficient moisture for the various Maples, Beech's and or red berries often hiding The grasses come into seed, add their contributions to the more rainy days, but in
trees to develop and retain Liquid Ambers, which are the foliage. adding white, red or brown full palette. smaller doses.
their foliage up until the n o r m a l l y g r o w n a s Lastly the birds feeding on patches onto the kaleido-
recent frost we now have a ornamentals have followed, them add flashes of colour scope of colours, the This year our rainfall for the This is in contrast to areas
“Fall” that rivals any other and then lastly the Elms who as they flit in and out of them. deciduous bushes add their first four months totals below the escarpment where
yellows and browns and to 299.7mm over 63 days the rainfall for the same
top it off the newly ploughed against an average of period is approaching the
black or red cultivated lands 407.4mm over 43 days, average for the year.