Cool looking leaves

Time: 1030-1130

Date: 5 November 2008

Climate: lightly raining, overcast, chilly

Location: Wandering around the Willamette University campus and on the streets around it

I decided to take a walk around campus and on the surrounding streets.  I stared out by just walking along the Mill Stream that is still low and starting to look pretty disgusting.  I walked through the Botanical Garden, the Japanese Garden, under the Star Trees, across the Quad and just wandered around.  Then I walked in a square starting on Bellevue, towards 12^th Street.  I turned left to walk down 12^th street, under the sky bridge and past the fraternities.  Then I turned left onto State St.  but there is construction so walking was a little dangerous because there were lots of cars.  I walked past the front of Willamette University and I love the flower arrangements in front of Cone Chapel and in front of the flagpole.  I continued down State St. and turned left onto Winter St., which led me back to Bellevue. There are lots of leaves all over the ground and the road.  I notice that there are still gold leaves all over the trees.  It is shocking to me because it is so rainy and cold some days and also windy that I would expect them to all be gone by now.  I love the Star looking leaves that are all over.  They cover the ground and some sidewalks completely but I love looking at them.  I love the different colors that they change to.  Especially the ones where there is yellow and red.  I don’t understand how leaves can change colors like these.  There will be one color on the edges of the leaf and then a completely different color around the inside of each section.  They are so pretty and I always see them and I want to pick them all up.