Fall is Coming
How do I know? I read the signs of the city.
Wall sitters wear long sleeves.
Thinning trees let the river peep through.
The dog is a walking seed dispensary,
from his head
to his tail
Sparrows in camo poke around in the underbrush.
Fall flowers abound.
Art work surprises. (AM:PM. To me, that means: NOW.)
Berries delight.
But hold on a minute, do you see that burr on the left, pushing its way into the photograph? That bad burr?
Oh no, not a burr cluster!
Don’t let me get started on burrs. As the poor dog knows all too well, being a seed dispensary is one thing, being a burdock mule is quite another.
A cyber-friend, Tricia Vita, who tracks all things Coney Island on her wonderful blog, Amusing the Zillion, tells me that the roots of burdock are edible. She refers me to a recipe with photos and claims that Marumi Restaurant on LaGuardia Place makes the best burdock in a dish called Gobo. Hmm. Dining on the dog’s nemesis seems like fine revenge.
But I digress. Burrs will do that to a person. Where was I? Yes, signs of approaching autumn.
The peacocks have lost their tail feathers
and the man on the street is wearing autumn brown.
Strangely, rumor has it temperatures will be up near 80 degrees again this weekend. Well, maybe the hula hoopers of summer can have one last go before they lose their midriffs to an accumulation of sweaters and jackets.
Enjoy.
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Tags: berries riverside park, burdock, burrs, dog with burrs and seeds, fall in nyc, signs of autumn NYC
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Out walking the dog 
October 17, 2011 at 8:01 am
I love the pictures of your poor dog as a seed dispensary. Yes, burdock is commonly eaten in Japanese cooking, though I have not tried it. I did not know that it grows wild in NYC.
October 18, 2011 at 6:31 pm
Thank you for visiting, Leslie! I’m looking forward t trying burdock sometime soon. And yes, there’s plenty of wild burdock up here in Riverside Park.
October 5, 2011 at 11:09 am
Burdock stew, hmn…Is that anything like ‘a mess of pottage’?
Esau seems unconcerned about his role as a walking pantry, anyway.
And who’s that good-looking guy?
October 8, 2011 at 10:37 am
I love the idea of Esau as a walking pantry. Very funny.
October 4, 2011 at 4:17 pm
Ah, to be walking with you and Esau enjoying the chill of fall (or warmth of Indian Summer?)—now that would be a treat. Love the pictures, especially of the evil burdock burr and seedlings attacking the dog….oh yes, and that handsome young man in fall colors.
October 8, 2011 at 10:39 am
We’re going in reverse here, as early fall turns into summer this weekend with temps over 80. Maybe like reverse evolution, de-evolution. Time goes backwards.