Rainy Fall Friday

Steady rain all day today then cold temperatures tomorrow. Tough weather for those of us trying to enjoy Fall.

I went through my photos for a few I haven't posted.

I always take photos that don't fit the theme of the day or match a subject I decide to explore.

This bunch of beautiful red leaves I actually took to get an ID on the tree. Its American hornbeam soometimes called ironwood or musclewood. It is an understory tree. I have a stand of hornbeam along the creek on a sloping area to hold the soil and prevent erosion.

I use logs for lots of things - borders to the yard, a raised walkway through a swampy area, building raised beds. After awhile they tend to decay and breakdown. Usually this is a feature not a bug 😉 but a fun part of this is mushrooms.

Mushrooms can be quite beautiful.

Mushrooms can also be quite colorful.

We are working to clean up the yard. We started cutting down the hydrangeas. Often we find a nest or two hidden in the branches. This one had an egg left behind.

I take a few photos of the colors remaining around the yard through the fall. There are always a few Blackeyed Susans that bloom late and hang around.

I have a few cinquefoil shrubs that will bloom into the fall. Mums are beautiful for this time of year but I usually don't buy any. But between the changing leaves and flowers that last late in summer, there is usually still some color around.

And of course the Dahlias are still looking good. They will last until the first hard freeze. Unfortunately that may be this weekend 😅