In the foreground is what is left of a ten foot tall branching sunflower which first emerged as a volunteer in June. Since then it has been visited by a series of creatures. In the beginning it attracted the interest of goldfinches, but they soon left. Then hundreds of bees feasted on the nectar throughout the ensuing weeks. As the flowers dried out they became the food source for downy woodpeckers, hovering carefully as they ate. Eventually the squirrels showed up. Some clambered up the sturdy main stalk, chewed off the flowers, took them to ground and devoured them. With little left of the largest blooms at the top the squirrels and woodpeckers have left leaving what remains to the bees and butterflies.

As you can see in the rest of the photo the trees are just starting to lose their color. The summer has been unusually dry so the change is coming sooner. The weather has been lovely, temperate and no humidity. Just right for Charlie’s late summer tasks of painting and repair of the deck and fences.

As for me, this time of year is a feast for the eyes! Time in the porch swing trying to just savor the season. Trying to stay out of politics. Occasionally succeeding.