Saturday

A walk out in the yard this morning revealed these five birds perched on the log across the pond. I'm afraid by the time I'd retrieved my binoculars for a closer look, they were gone, so I can't tell you who they are...but I suspect they are a few more on the southern migration route, stopping for a rest.

Here's a nice shot of the asters, which are distinguished from the boltonia by their purple cast, and more thread-like petals.

I didn't even spot this creature in the marigold until I was developing it after returning to the house. I thought it was a spider, at first, but now I'm not so sure. I'll be sure to update if I learn anything about its identity.


For those of you who are growing just a little tired of seeing only marigolds, cosmos and asters (oh, my!) lately, rest easy: there are coming attraction signs, like these buds of yellow (I think...) helianthus, plus assorted mums and the Montauk daisies...all of whom may have begun their show by weekend's conclusion.

Already, we have a temperature of 70 here today, but there's a sweet breeze keeping things comfortable. Some while global warming appears to be giving us more summer instead of fall, it certainly is lovely.

Any chance it will last long enough to get Christmas lights up?

; )