Fading Into Fall.

9-13-21 SHORT HILLS: It still feels like summer here, we’re in the 80’s today, but the calendar says Fall starts shortly, and the days are shrinking away. I’m a bit depressed by the prospect of winter and the short days and the cold. 

Leaves are starting to turn here, a few burning bushes especially, and a few maples. 

Our basement and garage are finely dry. We’ve decided to close up the basement windows, which were the source of the water we had. Those windows were done in past times but not necessary any longer, and really have no point in the age of electricity and air-conditioning. We’re collecting bids from contractors.

I filled the bird feeders when we got back here, but there has been very little bird activity as yet.

New blooms: white aster.

Rose-of-Sharon is another kind of hibiscus and looks like a smaller variation of the one I showed in Vermont a few weeks ago.

Caryopteris is another fall bloomer with clusters of blue blossoms that last into October.

Abelia, another deciduous shrub that makes a big mound adorned with white flowers in fall.

Lady Cardinal has been one of the few customers we've had so far. I did see a grackle yesterday for the first time this fall. Catbirds and robins are still here.

Everything is mostly green, but you can see some red starting to appear.