Fall Finalies

Question Mark Butterfly sunning itself

Garden fairy enjoys late blooms  

Marigolds still shining bright in the autumn sunlight

A Fond Farewell

When I was working outside this afternoon, a pair of Monarch Butterflies swooped through and flitted by me. They alit on the last flowers remaining ~ the few zinnias still in bloom, and, the one above, on the late-blooming cottage roses. You usually don't see Monarchs on the rose bush, but the pickings are slim this late in the season. The butterflies fed on whatever nectar they could glean from the flowers and were on their way. It's always bittersweet to see the last ones come and go!

The Garden Today

Frost is on the way, so these are the last zinnias of the season

My gardening buddy, a bright green praying mantis

Berry bush growing over the back fence door

Close-up of the pretty berries and leaves turning red

Rainy Day Visitors

Rain has become the norm around here. Hardly a day has gone by for the past several months when it hasn't been wet and soggy outdoors. Today, we were visited by the small family group of white-tailed deer who've made the fields and woods around our home their home base. The rain didn't seem to bother them, as they nibbled on green shoots and leaves. A plus for the deer is that the rain keeps the flies, their almost constant nemesis, at bay. It was good to see that the does and fawn who showed up in our backyard look healthy and ready for the lean cold weather months to come. The fawn, standing at the top of our stairs, noticed I was snapping a photo and was on high alert, scurrying off shortly after I took the picture that you will see below. She's lost almost all of her white spots.

Finally Fall

Today was a lovely, crisp fall day, the first of its kind so far this season. It was a wonderful day for a walk in the woods. My husband and I enjoyed sitting by the mountain stream that flows through the hollow, surrounded by trees with leaves just beginning to turn from green to various shades of gold, red, and rust. As we proceeded on our hike, we came across a very large, party-colored spider who'd stretched her web across the path. Nature is so amazing … so many incredible, beautiful creatures, and always something new to happen upon on any given day.

Kevin's photograph of the spider!
"Marbled Orb Weaver Spider"

Signs of the Season

Seasonal changes generally occur gradually. Around our home, we're seeing signs of the beginning of fall. Autumn flowers are blooming and leaves on some bushes and trees are starting to turn color. Here are a few of the signs of fall's arrival displayed in photographs I took today.

Black Gum tree leaves turning red, the first to change color

Goldenrod Blooms

Garden Mums

Wild blackberry leaves turning crimson red

Large orange fungi patch due to all the rain

Final burst of colorful blooms of end-of-summer roses

A woolly bear caterpillar resting among spent aster flowers

Sunny Day

Today's sunshine brought a flurry of activity to the garden, both fast & slow!

A pair of butterflies share the zinnias

A snail makes its way across the patio