I love me some fall nature!

Yarrow (Achillea millifolium)

I snapped the photo of late blooming yarrow in my yard today. The afternoon sun shone brilliantly at a low slant, and I meandered about my yard enjoying all the natural wonders.
I harvested some of the vibrant yarrow leaf, varying in shades of green from deep to bright hued.

Small tomato bloom

The yarrow was not the only bloom showing off. The marigolds flourish even as they fade.  A few yellow tomatoe blooms stand out against the green vines.

Marigold seed head and blooms

The memory of former flowers are evident too - the rose hips swell and transform from green to pink, a reminder of their beauty and promise.
Shriveled indigo berries on the pokeweed plant tell the tale of dangling clusters of flowers that came before.

I reveled in an afternoon in the yard free from the whine and bite of mosquitoes
(I know they serve important roles in the ecosystem, but sheesh are they pesky).

I took a close look at my gardens, which I have yet to 'put to bed' for the winter. I am awaiting the first frost to leave its mark. The plants still growing, I can't bring myself to end the garden season. I even harvested a few tasty morsels - a broccoli (or broccoli raab) floret, who knew it is a halted bloom we eat??? I did not, I kept letting the bloom and wondering why I never got a head of broccoli. My friend set me straight, and so I picked a little floret.
I also pulled a few delectable carrots, one of which I immediately rubbed the dirt from and ate garden side.  The other carrots I brought in and washed the mud off of properly before eating. I really must learn to thin my crop - the seedlings pop up, and I hesitate to yank them up to space them, so I always end up with small carrots. I need to just take a deep breath and thin the patch. I can use the greens and thank the plants for their brief life. I eat lamb, so why is it so hard to thin plants?

 The dapple of browned oak leaves on the lawn and the accents of color adorning the cascade of leaves on my back fence attest to the turning of the seasons. 
 What a magnificent show!