Autumn,

 gorgeous in yellow and red,

Is the harvest time, when man is led

To garner the fruits of sweat and toil

From dear Mother Earth, the deep rich soil...

Gertrude Tooley Buckingham, "The Four Seasons" (1940s)

It is getting dark a little earlier,

and the nights and early mornings have a welcomed chill to them.

A balmy and cooler breeze blows.

The cheery little wildflowers that dotted the landscape have dried and lost their color, 

the wild grasses and other flowers are dry and brittle.

Everything is tired, weary, and ready for the ending days of summer.

Some of the flowers in my gardens are feeling much better with the cooler days

and are still blooming.  The morning glory seems to 

do so much better when fall time arrives. 

The tolerant Mexican petunia is still green and vibrant and still blooming

it's lovely purple blossoms. 

I am already in the mood for "everything pumpkin" 

I have pulled some of my favorite fall food recipes and getting ready for my kitchen to fill with the aroma of pumpkin, cinnamon, and ginger.

How about you??  Are you ready for summer's end?

Are you already gathering fall decorations to display?

I would love to hear!