Happy first day of astronomical autumn. Quite the rainy day here but it’s time to celebrate nonetheless. First I’ll celebrate that I’m getting rain. Hooray! Something that is needed to a huge degree. Second I’m celebrating AUTUMN. Hallelujah! Lovely, warm colors all over the woods.

Celebrating with me are the Flowering Dogwoods (Cornus florida). They’re showing off their crimson side. They begin this process way back in late June, when the chlorophyll production begins to slowly shut down. Very slowly. Their leaves begin to turn from summer green to crimson. Very slowly. Mark your calendars and check out those Dogwood leaves. It really starts that early.

I hope you’re celebrating the arrival of autumn too.