When it rains - - -

 I've been watching this woodlot on my way to dog classes.  Simply lovely. Kathy told me that her Grandpa Cox said that the reason fields of crops had a single tree, often a very old tree, sitting out in them was to give shade to the horses and workers. Did not know that. Clicking on photos will enlarge them. Snapping Turtle Redux.*

Woodlot

Hay Harvest

The dahlias are still flowering but the many of the plants have fallen over. I haven't harvested the tubers because the plants are still going strong and we haven't had a frost - yet.

Totty, ABBA, Tryggur

My favorite very hardy old fashioned mum

The trees aren't the only plants that show autumn colors. Perhaps we should look down as well as up in the fall. Just saying - - - 

Jim Langhamar's Autumn Orange Daylily 

- yellow now but still flowering

A Hellebore, this one is much is hardier than the more often planted varieties and self sows freely. I love plants that can survive rabbits, deer, and my dogs. We''ll be seeing more of this hellebore!

The yellow leaved witchhazel was obviously the result of a graft onto a wild (species) witchhazel. The species has reasserted itself - note the red leaves on each side of the graft. I like that and am going to leave it.

* - the dogs found a second snapping turtle in the front yard today. It was about the same size as the previous one. I don't know if they were both in my pond for a couple of years or if one or both just came visiting now in order, perhaps, to find a spot to hibernate? Or lay eggs? Who knows? I don't see how they could get in to (or out of) the yard. The fence is tight and there are no openings. I think they must have come in as hatchlings. Regardless, I released it into Lake Huron also. (The water level of Lake Huron continues dropping. Thankfully.)

(I've been having lots of problems recently; hopefully I'll get them all solved before winter sets in.)