It's Autumn ... More or Less

I read in the newspaper yesterday that our City is going to begin their annual curbside leaf collection next week. We are the City of Oaks and this is the time of year that the leaves fall, fast and furious. Of course, the problem with Oaks is that they hold onto some of their leaves until the new buds come out in spring - so you end up raking again, which isn't much fun.

Well, this year, we are under a severe drought, and it has also been very hot. I don't know if that is the reason or not - but barely any leaves have changed color yet!!! I look into my wooded back yard and the trees are all very green. I imagine when they stop cholorphyl production, they will just turn brown and drop - no beautiful colors hiding underneath - but I don't know for sure because they are still green!

So last weekend, we went to the farmer's market, and I took some pictures, just to prove that it is fall...The bees were very intent on their pollination
The orange pumpkins were lined up, waiting to be chosen for the perfect jack-o-latern

These little gourds were very pretty. I bought 3 to set on my table.

The white "lumina" pumpkins were so intersting - I might get one to carve next year.

I loved the colors in this decorative corn and thought the would work well in an art piece.

And just to show you how beautiful autumn CAN be here in North Carolina ... here are some photos I took in October 2006. Enjoy them - it may be all we get this year. I still can't understand how it can be November and my backyard can be green!!!!!

I hope you enjoyed my little autumn adventure. Maybe there will be more artwork next week.