Oh, the serenity ...

Went for a peaceful walk in the beautiful local botanic gardens on the weekend. Well, peaceful except for 9-year-old son racing around & yelling like a wild thing! We keep reminding him we live in town now & must be quieter but he still uses his 100 decibel farm voice! The first autumn chill has hit our district & nature is responding:

the last of the roses for the season, a valiant final bloom ...beautiful Japanese windflowers ...

... true to their name, swaying gently in the breeze ...

tiny crocus bravely popping their heads up into the chilly autumn air

the glossy, sumptuous red of autumn berries ...and a shock of brilliant yellow, radiant in the face of impending winter gloom!