So here we are, just off three-plus inches of rain after weeks of drought. The world right now smells fresh, with a hint of monsoon. The air is still a bit heavy, as if it wants to rain more but can’t be bothered for a few days.

For the fall issue of Upper Delaware, we’re giving you a glimpse at some hidden wonders, a few of the small secret places here, a little bit of the unknown.

Trees, you might say, are hardly unknown. They are everywhere. But how much do you really know about them? In “Trees please,” Sandy Long introduces us to a movement to give trees the recognition they deserve, and remind everyone about the importance of the arboreal world.

Trains still rattle through the towns along the river, and they of course were a key part of our history. Writer and photographer Jeff Sidle brings you a new park in Port Jervis, dedicated to trains and their lore. You can see actual cars on the 10-acre park at the Erie Rail Yard, and learn about the people who drove those trains. Their descendents still live here.

Sharon Peduto has given us a story about Labyrinth Garden PA, one of those small surprises tucked away in Pike County. Labyrinths are not mazes; they are full of mystery, but it is what you learn by walking the paths that is the secret.

We all know about summer’s produce. But don’t forget the fruits of fall! Kristin Webber tells us about pumpkins, beets, apples and more—and where to find them.

Jeff Sidle is back with his second story, on leucistic animals here. Check out his phenomenal photographs, and learn about animals of a different color. Why the striking variation in piebald animals? What happens to them in the animal world?

And finally, Leah Casner gives us tiny Equinunk, tucked away in a corner of Wayne County, PA. Small towns have a lot to offer, and they’re worth visiting, as well as their more populated siblings.

Enjoy this issue, and have a wonderful fall.

Annemarie Schuetz

Section editor