I woke up to a nippy start to the day. The thermometer said it was a mere 0ºC/32ºF. Luckily there has been little wind through most of the day. By mid-afternoon, it had warmed up to 18°C – and still with little wind. Perfect for my last bike ride of the season.
I spent time out in the yard. Some leaves are changing, although not many yet. We’ve had such a drought for months that many of the leaves are simply falling to the ground as is, dry, crispy and dull. But some that want to show off some colours – a welcome flag for the next season.
This cranefly (and a friend) seemed content to rest on the garage door. Many think they are just big mosquitoes, but in fact, their larva actually eat mosquitoes. These guys are harmless – just looking to survive another day, enjoying the warmth of the sun.
The flaming bush that began as a twig from my cousin Judith’s garden has grown to be about 4′ high and is living up to its name. Its leaves are gradually turning a brilliant red, despite being droopy from a lack of water.
These shrivelled leaves are more typical of what we’re seeing this year, and most of the choke cherries have turned black. I can only hope the birds have enough to eat, especially the ones who need strength to migrate.
The petals have shrivelled and dropped off most of the Black Eyed Susans, leaving seed heads available for birds and bugs to enjoy as snacks.
As the wind picked up, I couldn’t resist trying my hand at ICM (Intentional Camera Movement) to show how lovely the colours all look blended together, waving to passersby.
Goodbye Summer – it’s been fun! Now, to look forward to the next (and my favourite) season: autumn. Crisp cool mornings, warm afternoons, and brisk evenings. We won’t talk about what follows that.
Capturing Cherished Memories 