Surprises in the sky and other shots

I was outside yesterday evening shooting the sunset when I caught the sounds of the birds flying out from the trees. You can see the beginning of their formation on the right hand side of the shot above and then the full group as they came out below.
There was no time to adjust the camera settings or to do anything but push the button as I tried to follow the birds before they disappeared behind the trees. Not the best shots but a pleasant surprise to capture those few seconds at all.My lavender is about done for the year but I'm optimistic that it will be back in the spring. The lavender above has been coming back each year for 10 years since I started it by seed which I enjoy. I think plants I started from seed, that give me pleasure for decades are my favorites.
The morning glories have made a brief come back after being zapped by heat. I thought they were done for the year but as the rain came, and the weather cooled, they have made a brief come back before the frost will lay them to rest. The seeds they have dropped will bring out the new plants in the spring.My storage building roses are continuing to soften the look of my utilitarian building. They tend to hang on even past the first few frosty evenings so hopefully they will do that for me this year.
I haven't used my outdoor shower in years, partly because of the need to conserve water. I suppose next spring if the drought conditions remain over I may turn that water back on. In the meantime it cracks me up how the shower head is surrounded by vines. Soon the leaves will drop off the vines and the shower will look lonely.
I guess I'll end with one of the cardinals which fake me out much of the year. I look up in the fall and at first I think they are a red leaf. I look up in the spring and summer and think they are a flower.