The Beginnings Of Autumn

Even before the hot days became cool days, skeins of Canada Geese were passing overhead. Then one day I noticed that the Pennsylvania Smartweed in the pasture was turning red:

Because Rose Mallow blossoms are all at the top of one stem, I can't cut any without cutting them all and therefore have to wait until the end of the season. I wanted to bring some to church but there were no flowers on the Sunday I planned to do so. The next Sunday, though, there was one red one. I cut it, put it in a vase and filled in around it with flowers from the Tree Hydrangea:

The Rugosa roses put on an end of season display. I may cut them down to about half their height this winter to give them a fresh start in the spring:

I discovered a new wildflower while walking across the south field but couldn't identify it. I sent a photo to a botanist in Saratoga County but she said it was insufficient for an ID and suggested I photograph an entire plant on white paper. I sent her this:

I sent five other photos, including closeups of the tiny flowers. I thought they might be American Pennyroyal, but she said they were Hyssop, an unrelated plant. It was a first for me and I thanked her for her help:

Sunrises are often spectacular this time of year:

I cleaned the barn floor again. I'll be happy when the horses can stay outdoors all night (if they want to, which they usually do):

I was driving the tractor around the pasture, searching for Remy's shucked muzzle when I spotted Christmas colors along the fence line. I had to get off the tractor and cross the fence for a closer look (I'd had the presence of mind to turn off the electricity before I went out). It was Bittersweet Nightshade with autumn berries, a common enough plant and long one of my favorites:

I also found these Wild Cucumber vine fruits in the barnyard while searching for Remy's muzzle. In fact, that's where I found them - just a few feet from the muzzle:

The Morden Sunrise rose produced a flurry of blossoms. I took many photos but none truly showed the beautiful pink and yellow petals. They are truly striking, much more colorful than they look in this photo:

The Mandarin Honeysuckle didn't grow much until the end of the season, but then it began taking off like a rocket. I think it's going to do well over the winter:

The neighbors stopped by with a basket of the most uniformly ripe cherry tomatoes I've ever seen. They were delicious and didn't last long. I sure have good neighbors: