scenes from late summer

oh, the precious golden days are on the way out. I struggle between wearing t-shirts, and flannel shirts. I’ve been crazy-busy at work and haven’t spent much time outdoors – for shame! for shame!

Most thistles are on the way to white puffballs – this one still had purple bits hanging on.

Seems like all that’s left around here is goldenrod.

 

And a few black-eyed susans.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

…to do a massive purge of old paperwork! Yes, that is how we spent Labor Day weekend!

Found this guy hanging out by the front door.

The cats hang out on the deck in the afternoons when it’s sunny. Here’s Maggie looking elegant…

 

…and less than elegant.

Oh, who am I kidding, this girl looks great no matter what she’s doing. She has the prettiest little face.

 

Onwards to Charlie.

 

I love how relaxed they are, lounging around in the middle of the yard.

Open wide!

grasses, sedges, and spiders

This is yellow foxtail (Setaria glauca), a grass whose golden bristles give it a glow, as though it comes with its own backlight.

“All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.”


You’ve probably seen plantain, a not particularly attractive lawn weed, and not given it much thought.

Think again. It’s flowering.

Proof that even the “blegh” species are anything but.
A grasshopper and I spied on each other.


Finally, s/he emerged, just a little.


Strange things comprise a meadow: check out this sedge, Carex flava.

It’s both bulgy, AND spiky! 

Or how about a sweet spider, watching me photograph her at home in the barberpole sedge (Scirpus rubrotinctus)?

I couldn’t get my trusty point-and-shoot to focus on her eyes, even though she apparently has plenty to choose from.