“Dull November is with us again. The gorgeous color of the woodlands has given away to bare limbs of leafless trees. We feel that we shall not enjoy summer sights nor sounds for many a long month to come, and can now settle ourselves down to the indoor tasks we had in mind. But November has a charm of its own. Its brown meadows and sombre woods invite us for a brisk walk in the bracing air. Nature is past her heyday, so that such a walk is greatly enhanced by having some other purpose.

One november day as I was enjoying a walk it occurred to me to note the flowers which were still in bloom at this late date, And by the time I had returned home I was really surprised at the number of these late stragglers.

As I crossed some fields there were little patches of golden rods. Of course many of the plants had gone to seed. But here and there, amid the downy seedheads, I saw the touch of a yellow flower And also, among the asters I found brown tufts of down everywhere yet the dull patches were brightened in places — perhaps more sheltered than elsewhere— with the rich purple of new England aster, the blue of the heart-leaved aster or the plain white of the little many-flowered aster. Many times I saw the yarrow with its flat top of white flowers still blooming, and I could not resist pausing to sniff its pungent odor which always reminds me, not of November, but of hot July days.

Of course I found plenty of dandelions. It would take more than the casual frosts of early autum to kill off these hardy stragglers. Amid the wilted grass I spied many a little golden head bravely blooming. Another spot of yellow was the odd solitary buttercup, aloft on its tall stem. Clovers, too, were in evidence. Occasionally a head of purple clover showed near the ground; and even the rose-tinted Alsike was to be seen. Often the tall sweet white clover held a spray of its tiny florets still in bloom.

For some distance my walk led me along the country road, where I found the common mayweed. This little daisy-like flower is abundant by roadsides throughout the summer. Sp that it is not surprising that in spite of such early frosts as there had been, many of its flowers were still in bloom. And here again I was tempted to smell the flower. Sure enough! It still retained the rank scent which has given it the name of “stinking mayweed”. The chicory was here too. Though somewhat lacking in its summer vigor, its flowers still gleamed in their lovely blue if anything enhanced by the drab surroundings. 

Nor were these all Most folk know the plants mentioned, for their flowers are conspicuous I found humbler flowers also. Ragweed, sheep sorrel, and pigweed were still in bloom. One would never gather sprays of any of these to deck a vase at home. They are dismissed as weeds by all but the botanist. Yet if trouble be taken to examine these lowly plants, their flowers will be found, which, though microscopic, are as perfect and as beautiful as the rose or the daisy.

It would be too much to say that all the flowers I found on this November day were at their best. Some looked as though they were struggling against odds which would soon overcome them. Others were putting on a bold front and looked almost as vigorous as in summer. But stragglers though they were and sadly out of season, their unexpected appearance greatly added to the interest of a November ramble.”

                                                      – Newsy Nature Notes, November 15, 1941

Source: islandnewspapers.ca