We're headed into a really nice stretch of fall weather, according to forecasters.  We were reminded this morning that summer is pretty much over when we awoke to the ground white with frost.  This was the first "hard" frost we've had at our house, although I believe there have been white frosts in a few lower pockets around us.  Our new roof was white this morning - the leaves on the pole beans and the grass around the house were white - now the pole bean leaves are wilting in the sun, but  the grass is fine - it will survive and even stay pretty green even under the cover of snow all winter.  By spring it will begin to look brown and dead, but once uncovered and exposed to sun and warm rains, we'll be back in the lawn mowing mode again.

If you've wondered about what makes the maples and other trees turn color and lose their leaves, take a look at this website, published by the U. S. Forest Service.  Even with all that information, I'm at a loss to even try to predict whether this will be a bright or dull foliage season, much less whether the timing of Fall Foliage Week, will be on target this year.  Our weather pattern from early spring to recent weeks, has been a bit skewed from what we think of as "normal," but that said - the one constant in the way trees turn and then finally drop their leaves, is the shorter days, longer nights.  Their brilliance is a whole other thing.

 This is a little chestnut  on our lower lawn.  We took this picture either Saturday or Sunday, when Fred was checking whether the grass needed one more mowing.  We have several larger chestnut trees on our property, but this one is showing the most color.  It's still early for much color to show in most of our trees.  With warm days and frosty nights, we know for sure summer has ended and foliage season is dead ahead!