Nature Notes: another week of changes

We've had another week where the weather has had big mood swings.

Sometimes it feels like the weather is schizophrenic.

I am starting to relish the days when the sun comes out.

I used to relish the rain but we've had enough of that of late.

The temperatures are fluctuating a lot from day to day and night to night.

More and more of the trees are changing clothes.

We're still a ways off from peak color.

I like the gradual changes because that means it lasts longer.

I am also looking forward to the bare trees of winter. 

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Today's Flowers: Hydrangea blooms ending

My hydrangea blossoms are hanging on to the last remnants of color.

Soon they will be all dried browns and the leaves drop for winter.

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Photohunters: Empty and Water

 Empty

 Water

In the winter, the birds holler at me until I empty the ice out of the bird baths and give them fresh water.

The shots in this post are from last winter as it's too early to need to empty ice out yet.

Some of the birds peck at the ice blocks that collect when I empty the ice water out of the baths.

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Nature Notes: It's beginning to feel like autumn

I may be weird but it's nice to have the weather getting chilly enough to wear a sweater inside.

I'm ready for fall and even winter this year.

We've had a lot of fluctuation in temperatures. Last night was in the low 40s F and today only got to  the mid 50s F.

Slowly but surely it's beginning to look like fall.

I like the mix and contrast in the trees below. Much of the green are the evergreens which don't change.

The dogwoods are a rainbow of colors as I look through the leaves.

I love how soft the male cardinals feathers are in the next shot. 

He's got a beak full of something below.

The berries on the porcelain vine are a popular treat.

The female cardinal is hunting in my gutters for food.

The mockingbird is all fluffed out.

The female cardinal's tail looks like a fan.

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Today's Flowers: October

Hard to believe that October is already here.

These yellow wildflowers are still growing in the woods near my house.

The rest of the shots are from my yard this week.

The flowers above are fairy asters and the next two shots are lantana.

Our first frost is usually sometime at the end of October so the remaining flowers should be fine for a few weeks here.

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