As the days tick away, the leaves turn more beautiful with each of those ticks. The Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) leaves however, have been turning from emerald to garnet since the end of June and have begun to fall away. Leaving berries, also known as drupes.

And those drupes gladden many species of birds, along with bunches of mammals. Each of those drupes with high fat, low sugar content. Just what is called for as winter approaches.

Here a Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) delights in the buffet it sees on every branch.