Fall

Our local weather forecast is for a low of 26F tonight. I'm skeptical that we will go that low, but, Hey! This is the Berkshires. I expect perhaps 30F, a respectable frost that will put an end to summer, and right on time.
For perhaps 40 years we have been picking Macintosh apples at an orchard about 40 minutes drive from here in the Hudson Valley. Today on our family outing we found the biggest and juiciest Macs we have picked in a long time. (Click on photo to enlarge.) Indeed, we accomplished our outing in a record short time simply because the apples were so many and so large. Of course sampling selected apples from various trees extended our enjoyment of a tradition.
On our afternoon walk, other seasonal signs suggest that summer is done. Along the Housatonic milkweed pods have begun to burst, and in our garden M's mums to blossom under a late afternoon sun.