Fall is Late This Year

   Unusually late and somewhat dry, fall has slowly lumbered onto the scene. The temperatures have yet to reach freezing at night and warm days have climbed into the mid-70's in early November. The birds are hanging around except for the hummingbirds who departed in mid-September. The rest are taking it day-by-day, expecting the hammer to fall at any moment. The pesky squirrels have decided to dig up the geraniums and eat their roots from the pots on the deck. If I was allowed, I might be planting squirrels in the pots, but my sweet Cheryl does not approve. We keep the bird feeders full and I even put some squirrel feed out in the far corner of the yard (as far from the deck as possible). I noticed that doves are congregating around the squirrel feeder and fighting for the loose corn. The squirrels keep coming to the deck and drinking from the bird bath and sunning themselves on the top rail before attacking the geraniums. Oddly the lantanas, which are a full summer sunshine flower, have been blooming for the whole month of October and are still blooming in November.
   The dry season is supposed to produce the most colorful foliage, but that hasn't held true this year. We have few trees exploding into the glorious reds and oranges that we are used to. These are sporadic and though some are magnificent, it seems to be in a piece-meal fashion. We are used to wondrous explosions of color that warm the heart and lift our spirits, but it seems not to be this year. I have gone to some of my favorite spots and though there is some color, it lacks the splendor of autumns past. Even our own yard, which has some beautiful foliage, is disappointing. None the less, here are examples of this year's palate and the birds who cling desperately to the hope of warmth and sunshine for just a little while longer. Oh, and a few of the flowers that are still hanging on.