Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.Good morning, gardeners! Here on the High Plains, fall is in the air. Autumn has come earlier here this year, it seems, maybe because of the El Nino? We've also had great rainfall this summer, and everything is green and lush out on the prairie (all this moisture doesn't bode well for winter, though!).
― Albert Camus
Temperatures at night have dropped into the 60's and the flocks of grackles and starlings and blackbirds are gathering in huge groups as they get ready for the migration to the south. This is always the sign that autumn is coming out here.
Out over the fields of corn and milo and sunflowers, the "murmurations" (the movement of the flock as one being) are quite disorganized as the younger birds have to learn how to follow the flock and often get left behind in the flock's sudden turns and dives. It really is incredible to watch!
Let's jump below the tangled garden hose for what's happening in the garden!