My daughter gave me this Welcome Autumn several years ago. She knows it is my favorite time of the year.
This fall has been quite different. This is usually the time rain replenishes the garden. It hasn't happened yet. If you don't look close it looks about as you might expect. Sort of wild and wooly around the edges after a summer of growth.
Even in the back things are a little crispy around the edges. Leaves are falling fast. Yet even though we are 5+ inches in deficit of rain there is a lot happening in the garden.
There are still plenty of garden visitors. If you look close you see some of the usual suspects enjoying what is blooming.
Despite Annie's constant patrolling little furry creatures make themselves at home.
Taking advantage of the feeders are, from the left, a White-breasted Nuthatch, House Sparrow, and Carolina Chickadee.
What really made my heart soar was the visit by a Northern Flicker (Yellow Shafted). She came to the water feature. We used to have them nesting around here but since so many trees have come down in the neighborhood they aren't around so often. You can see the yellow shafts of her under-tail feathers as she waits her turn at the water feature.
Here she is looking down at the melee below hoping that some of the sparrows will move out long enough for her to get a sip of water.
She finally got courage to get down amongst them.
She slipped in for a sip, then flew away.
The House Sparrows were thrilled that she departed. More room for them.
Are there any visitors to your garden that you want to share with me?