The beauty of decay

Is fall in the air? 

Well, you'd be hard pressed to say it feels like fall if you were outside in my garden mid-day with sunshine and 80 degree temperatures. However, the early mornings are significantly cooler and less humid than summer providing the first hint that fall is on its way. 

It is still a good month away before fall really shows its colors, but the signs are there. Take a look at some of the smaller details. The beautiful purples, browns, orange, red, tan and white found in this Turkey Tail fungi are indicative of fall.

Here are two alternate views. Each giving a very different feel of the same subject matter. 

I think fungi is Nature's art. There is so much color, texture and pattern to be found in this bracket variety. The part we see (aka the tail) is the "flower" of the fungi. Most of the fungus grows on the inside of the bark of the tree usually growing on wounds of oak trees helping it decompose so that the nutrients can return to the soil.

The occasional leaf is falling to the ground. Perhaps more victims of drought than the beginnings of foliage change.

..."their splendid coloring is but their graceful and beautiful surrender of life" 

~ Tryon Edwards

This one looks like a fish, don't you think?

Summer blooms have finished their summer offerings and are turning to seed.

blackberry lily seeds

Beautyberry seeds

milkweed seeds with dew drops

As nature produces for the next generation, the next growing season beauty abounds. Are you seeing signs of fall in your garden?