Late Larch, Erisman

It rained hard almost all day... not good trekking weather, and given how sick I find myself, I was not exactly tempted to put on rain gear and go for a sodden walk. But late in the afternoon, close to sunset, the precipitation let up, and, after sitting indoors and getting my only aerobic exercise from sneezing and coughing, I opted for a quick hike. The paths were empty and almost completely quiet; even the Titmice and Chickadees remained in hiding. But in a grove of deciduous conifers known as Larches—the oddball "evergreens" shed their needles annually then grow a new crop every spring—there was a sign of activity, albeit activity associated with the End Game. The Larch needles had lost most of their green color and were brittle and dry. In a few weeks—maybe even a few days—a strong wind will write finish to the Larix laricina photosynthesis story.