Signs are here

Almost the middle of September and it feels as if the Summer heat and humidity has come and gone, the air is clear and cool, time for the season to change and changing it is, as the signs are everywhere for Fall (Autumn).

Fields, ditches and waste land were all awash with the yellow flowers of Goldenrod , along with some of the late blooming Queen Anne Lace, wild blue cornflowers and wild asters.  I am sure they were all alive with bees collecting what pollen was remaining on the blooms and a place for small and mediums size wild animals for protection and food.  I should have stopped and taken a picture.

I visited my sister yesterday and she lives in an area were the soil is ideal for growing a lot vegetables and fruit, the fields of cucumbers which are grown for pickles have all been tilled, so that crop is done, there are still tomatoes and peppers being picked, however, the plants appeared to be almost stripped of their fruit.  The feathery green of the asparagus plants are still nice and green as are the rows of strawberry plants both of which produced a bumper crop this year.  The blueberry bushes  are also finished producing fruit for this season.  Fields of tobacco are still being harvested, only the very top leaves have yet to be picked, I am sure the farmers are hoping to get those off before we get an early frost.  Local apple orchards will soon have all of their fruit harvested, except for some variety that waits for a light frost to be at their best.

Some leaves on the trees have started to change from green to orange, the ones which were stressed for moisture during the Summer are actually losing some of their leaves.     

The clouds in the sky are now more grey than the white fluffy ones we had a week a so ago,  the evenings are drawing in and the air has "that" smell about it of decaying vegetation which has done its job supplying bees, insects, small  and large wild animals with shelter and food during the past few months.  The sun, when we see it, is now lower in the sky and has lost a lot of its warmth.

Squirrels and chipmunks are collecting nuts and seeds and adding them to their pantry for the Winter months.   The hummingbirds were busy for the past couple of weeks drinking the liquid from the feeder to store the sugar in their bodies for the long flight they soon will make to warmer climes.  

Garden centers have sales to hopefully get rid of some of the perennials  and huge displays of potted colourful Chrysanthemums are everywhere.

I like Autumn (or if you prefer Fall)  it is a beautiful season with the warm colours of red, orange, yellow and browns, however, it always comes before Winter, a season I don't particularly care for. 

Have a great day

Cheers.

P.S.  Does anyone know why comments are not showing up on my posts but I can read them when I go to the design page.  Thanks