Fall foliage at Locust Lake seen as "God's painting"
Oct. 15—LOCUST LAKE — When Robert and Shelly Karschner arrived earlier in the week, they were a little disappointed that the mountains around the lake seemed more green than gold.
By Friday, the scenery had changed dramatically.
"The trees seem to change overnight, bursting out in color," Shelly said. "Breathtaking is what it is."
Lycoming County residents, the Karschners were on their first visit to Locust Lake State Park.
They were joined by scores of people who took advantage of the last weekend of camping at the lake.
Against a picturesque backdrop of reds, yellows and browns casting reflections in the still waters, children and adults biked, hiked and fished in near perfect fall weather.
"We got a lot of reflecting pictures when we were kayaking," said Shelly, a retired administrative assistant. "We're taking in all this color before the colorlessness of winter arrives."
The First Century Gospel Church of Philadelphia made its annual end-of-season venture to the Schuylkill County preserve over the weekend.
More than 100 church members rented most of the available campsites along the periphery of the lake.
On Friday morning, children rode bikes and scooters while adults engaged in flag football games near the lake's playground.
Anne Wakefield, who's 33, said she has been coming to the church's annual weekend outing since she was a child.
This year, she brought along her daughter, 4-month-old Cosette.
"This is God's painting," she said of the fall foliage.
Refuge in color
Wakefield's sentiment was a familiar refrain as visitors to the park marveled at the pure beauty of a mountainside bathed in the glow of vibrant color.
At a time when the nation and the world face seemingly insurmountable problems, visitors to the park sought refuge in nature's beauty.
Michael Swilp, a retired construction worker who lives in Cumbola, angled for trout from a boat launch near the breast of the lake.
The trout weren't cooperating, but just being outdoors in near perfect weather evoked a sense of solitude.
"I see," Swilp said of the foliage, "the beauty that God created."
Not over yet
The recent frost and torrential downpours appear to have hastened the fall of autumn's leaves in some areas.
Retired state forester Frank P. Snyder says not to worry, the best is yet to come.
Many of the oak trees, the last species to give up summer's vibrancy, have yet to turn color.
Red oaks will turn a brilliant red, while other oak species display a russet color, probably in the next week or so.
The Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry fall foliage report for the coming week says Schuylkill County is approaching the best color of the season.
Foresters in the Weiser State Forest District, which includes Schuylkill and Carbon counties, said black gum, tulip poplar, red maple, hickories and birches are displaying an assortment of bright fall colors across the district.
Foliage will be at peak in the next seven to ten days in the region.
Karl Myhre, a forester in the Weiser district, said the summer's drought contributed to the vibrancy of the colors in some species.
Fishin' with Uncle Seth
It might have been a Norman Rockwell painting.
A 5-year-old boy baiting a hook and casting a line into a lake, all under the watchful eye of his uncle.
The real-life version happened Friday on a boat launch in Locust Lake.
Griffin Wakefield, the 5-year-old, was being taught the fine points of fishing by his uncle, Seth Wakefield, of Philadelphia.
They were angling for sunfish and crappie bass, relatively small fish that lurk in the shallow waters offshore.
The fish weren't biting, but Uncle Seth was pleased that Griffin showed the makings of a fine fisherman.
That the nephew-uncle encounter had the makings of a cherished family was obvious, but there was something else memorable — another fisherman, a majestic American bald eagle, soared overhead.
Contact the writer: rdevlin@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007
