The End Is Near

I've posted the top photo before. The point here is the contrast with the next two photos, taken this morning following our first hard frost of the season. For the past months and a half, two clusters of around 40 treehoppers each have occupied low branches of a California Black Oak near my driveway. This morning, following the frost, at least two thirds of them are gone and the remaining ones have spread out and no longer look like a community. I couldn't help but imagine them carrying little signs reading "The End Is Near." The next two photos are of the frost in my front yard, one of our nursery-bred yarrow and the other of leaves of our birch tree. The bottom photo is a repeat of some puffballs growing in our front garden. They already looked like little snow balls, so not much change there. This cold snap will cause sudden changes all around. Many trees loaded with colorful leaves are dropping those leaves today. I hope visitors who've driven long distances to see our fall colors will discover the many other wonderful sights our county offers and not go home disappointed. As usual, I suggest getting down on hands and knees and wandering around for a closer look at things. You'll discover wonders.