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The Laurels Preserve with a sweet ending!

Fall is the second  most favorite season for me, Spring being my first.   Every Fall, nature showcases a brilliant display of colors and leaf-peeping trips are planned all over to take in a glimpse of nature’s splendor.  There are many factors that can impact the leaves, such as a sudden drop in temperature or a violent storm that blows the leaves off the trees before they have a chance to fall.  The Northeast United States probably has the most splendid display of colors.  Reds, yellows, and orange hues seem to fire up the sky, in places it almost seems like the sky is ablaze and indescribably beautiful.  The cooler, crisp nights bring better results.

My husband and I decided to take a trip to The Laurels Preserve to capture the beauty one last time.  This was always a popular hiking spot for us surrounded by nature.   Since we moved closer to the city in an attempt to downsize, we no longer frequent the Preserve as much as we used to, so coming back to this beautiful space was definitely a breath of fresh air, add to that the color and scents of Fall perfuming the air and you’ve got a winner. You hear birds call, a horse and rider in the distance, deer bopping every so often through the woods, other visitors claim to have also seen beavers, wild turkeys and other animals native to the area.  The Laurels and surrounding land has been named an important bird area by Audubon Pennsylvania in recognition of its many bird species.

IMG_5573The Preserve contains almost 500 acres of hardwood forest including mature red, black, white and chestnut oaks, tulip poplar, beech, white ash and hickory species.  The under story of the the forest features the namesake mountain laurel, spicebush, witch-hazel, alder and virburnum.  A rich mix of herbaceous plants including black cohosh, Solomon’s seal, jewelweed and several fern species can also be found.  This information was provided by the Brandywine Conservancy.  Native Americans once fished in the streams here.  IMG_5580

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The fiery colors light up the blue sky

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Two covered bridges grace the property at the Preserve

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It was time to leave our favorite spot before it got too dark.  I scooped up some leaves to bring home with me.  When I got home, I made myself an herbal tea and ate some Energy Balls that I had prepared the day before.  These bite sized goodies are a wholesome treat full of nutrition which include walnuts, dates, apricots, coconut flakes, honey, cocoa powder, coconut oil and almond meal.  I whizzed all of the above in a food processor, then rolled them in coconut flakes and almond meal.  A quick and easy burst of energy!

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I’m bringing this Fall dish to Angie’s Fiesta Friday #93

Thanks for co-hosting Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook and Kaila @ GF LIfe 24/7.

39 comments

    1. Thanks Desley, how did I do with the pictures? I imagine you don’t see anything like this in Australia do you? Anyway, how are you getting along in your new place? I’m sure you are well settled and capturing all the beautiful spots with your camera eh? Thanks so much for stopping by, enjoy your weekend.

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      1. You did a fantastic job with the pictures Loretta, they are lovely! No we don’t get anything really like this. In the south there are certainly more colour changes but nothing up here! I’m still up here though, haven’t sold my house yet, still waiting, not so patiently.

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  2. Loretta, You have captured the serene preserve so well. Thank you so much for sharing this awesome place with us. I love these type of hikes and walks too. last weekend my husband and I were planning to go biking and enjoy the leaves but the errands got in our way:( So I am doubly happy I got to enjoy your photos!
    And those energy balls and tea after getting back, is just divine!

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    1. Thanks Sandhya, I’d love to see some shots of the areas around you as well. I’m sure the colors are more vibrant because of the cooler nights up north. I too can spend hours enjoying nature and listening to the birds call. Those energy balls were very good and so healthy too, they really perked me up after the tiresome hike. Enjoy your weekend Sandhya and thanks as always.

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      1. It has been unseasonably warm here and sunny….but I am not complaining…..love this weather. I will have to do better with photos next year as the leaves are on the ground already.
        Have a great weekend!Always nice to hear from you too, Loretta!

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  3. I am always jealous when I see Fall photos as I have not witnessed this season… ever! 😐 But glad that I see stunning photos like yours. 🙂 Thank you for sharing your wonderful hike, Loretta. The energy balls sound awesome, too. And I must say that I love your cup and saucer. 😀 xx

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    1. Oh, I do feel bad for you Jhuls. first I envied you for not experiencing winter, but now I feel bad that you haven’t witnessed nature at its best! It feels so magical to be out and about taking in all the colors, I really look forward to Fall as the temperatures aren’t too bad either. Thanks for noticing my cup and saucer, it was a hand-me-down from my mother in law and I love it, there’s a whole set. Thanks for co-hosting Jhuls 🙂

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  4. God Loretta, these pictures are breathtaking. I have a friend who lives in Pennsylvania dubbing it, Pennsyltucky….when he talks about it, it makes me want to live there too. Thanks for telling me you wrote a nature essay. I do love them…always a reminder of the lilies of the field that neither toil not spin 🙂

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    1. Aren’t they just Susannah, thank you. There’s nothing quite like a Fall day and taking in all the sights and sounds is there? Ha ha, I love PA being dubbed Pennsyltucky! I must remember that 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your weekend 🙂

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  5. My son used to live in New Hampshire and then Boston and John and I could never get enough of exploring this area. Because of his job we could never go in the fall (sad face inserted here). When he retires, that is on our bucket list. Those leaves look fake they are so beautiful, and I love the idea of having a great good for you treat with a little tea to top off the day. Great photos Loretta!

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    1. Oh both great places to visit Julie, too bad you weren’t able to visit in the Fall, the New England colors are the best, or so I’m told. Yes, the leaves do look fake don’t they? I picked them up fo a photo op, I was excited to add my ma-in-law’s tea cup and saucer too, which was part of a set that she handed down to me. Thanks for the visit Julie, always appreciate you stopping by. 🙂

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      1. I can imagine Loretta. This is such a colorful season.The pictures say it all. I have been travelling a lot but currently I am in Hyderabad my home town. And it is lovely weather here at this time of the year.

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      2. Really? Now why did I assume you were living in the USA? Tsk, tsk, shame on me. :). I think of Hyderabadi biryani when I hear folks are from Hyderabad 🙂 Yummmmm, l actually made it once, a lot of work, but so worth it.

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      3. I remember your biryani post very well Loretta. And you can’t be blamed.I have mentioned my stay in the US and the food I have enjoyed there in so many of my posts. Can’t get some amazing experiences out of my head 😀

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  10. Love, love, love!!! But then again, you KNOW how much I love fall now, right? 😉 and the covered bridges just add to the magical beauty of the place! I might need energy balls for those 3 straight night shifts in a row. Pretty cup and saucer too! 😉

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    1. Thanks Belle, I too love those covered bridges, once I actually got a picture of these handsome looking horses passing through, the lightness and darkness, the shadows and the picture it created remains so vivid in my memory. Have a wonderful weekend, put your feet up and relax from those night shifts 🙂

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  11. Your photos are stunning, Loretta. I just love the leaves in the fall, and the Preserve sounds like an amazing spot. The leaves you picked up added a great dash of color to your energy balls as well. And, I’d love to try one! Happy FF, and have a delightful weekend. 🙂

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    1. Yes Judi, Fall is my second best season, the dreaded thought of winter is enough to put me in a deep slumber, only to wake up again in the spring. Thanks for stopping 🙂

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    1. Thanks Johanne, alas most of the leaves are down, but there are a few trees that are putting out their last hurrah! Yes, that’s my favorite one too. Thanks for stopping by 🙂

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