“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.”
Psalm 143:5 ESV
Sun or no sun, we hope it is a golden start to your day and your week. One of the area’s oldest and largest ginkgo trees is on city property downtown. Most years it would come in near the top in the “most beautiful tree” competition…only my opinion of course. This is actually a throwback to 2018. I dropped by yesterday to have a look and found that the tree has started turning, but still appears mostly green. Our ginkgoes at home have lost a lot of leaves and will not have their normal bright yellow display. I am wondering if we will be treated to a sight such as this in the coming days? I plan to keep a check on it!
I couldn’t help but post what should be a final farewell to the summer of ’25. Lantana is a wonderful bloomer that requires very little attention all season. I say farewell because of the weather forecast. We haven’t yet had a frost at our location and it was near 80 when I made this photo last week. However, we are predicted to have our first freeze tonight, a high Monday struggling to reach 40, and a hard, low 20’s, freeze tomorrow night. It will be bye-bye to all the blooms that are still hanging around!
We are likely entering autumn’s most colorful days where we live. It seems to come quickly once things start changing. Crepe myrtle offers brilliant deep reds and reminds us fall is here. This tree stands just below the lantana!
A family gathering that undoubtably includes extended family and possibly a few friends was held last week at the bird sanctuary. Gatherings like this almost always involve food. This might not be a desirable neighborhood if you were a fish!
I not only found this stand alone autumn beauty while out on a walk, I was blessed with the opportunity to see it through the air and on the water…you know how we like reflections!
Part of fall cleanup involves removing spent summer and early autumn plants from pots to ready things for winter. In doing so, I guess I have uncovered and destroyed the selected winter hang out for some local tree frogs. They will figure something out!
I would like to take you on a brief fall tour of a few trees around us which we encountered over the last few days as part of our everyday living, just roaming around! This one was interesting because it was a large and very old tree that had received damage or had parts to die, but put on new growth years back. A lot of maples in our area don’t seem to have a long life span but this one has been around a long while!
Pam and I couldn’t pass this by, and you can see why. We figure it is a Japanese maple, but not sure. We didn’t take time for a close examination but the color was absolutely stunning. Hard to find something to compete with such a display!
We drove on a bit further and decided to drop by Fourth Street and check out a couple of trees that never disappoint. The timing was right for the leaves and the blue sky…what can I say!
Our city held a parade last Wednesday to honor Veterans. The grand girls were in the parade as part of the American Heritage Girls, so you might guess, PJ and I were in attendance. Veterans hold a special place in our hearts, but of course, Pam’s dad holds the dearest place of all! Tuesday is Veterans Day!
On Thursday, the Sunshine Cottage was the scene of an autumnal tea party prepared by Pam and included two special guests. EM might be a country girl, but she knows how to appreciate and enjoy an afternoon tea.
EK was all smiles even though she has a loose tooth. The girls (including the hostess) loved the sweet treats. I made them peanut butter honey bites and macarons were also available.
WL and I did not attend the tea party, as it was sort of a girls thing. I actually don’t recall getting an invitation but that was OK. We had us an afternoon filled with John Deere tractors and other stuff girls don’t know anything about! Well, some girls don’t, but some girls do! (I think that’s a country song)
Yesterday was a shorts and tee shirt afternoon up on the lake, but possibly it was the last of that kind of weather for a while. Very little wind and big clouds provided a perfect setting for reflections. Very warm days last week were bittersweet. With the warm sunny afternoons came an invasion of millions of ladybugs, the likes of which we have never witnessed. The invaders are not really our native North American ladybug, but an Asian lady beetle that is aggressive and will bite. Supposedly they bite if provoked in some way, but that is only partially true. They will land on you and bite for no reason. I was bitten a number of times while outdoors last week and they do hurt! Tomorrow’s high is only 39 and the low will reach 20 or so tomorrow evening. This is an unseasonable and drastic change for us and normally would be much dreaded…but we are hoping to get rid of our invaders. They are on, and in…everything!
I decided to hang out around the lake until after sunset and I believe it was a good choice. Besides the beauty of a warm autumn late afternoon…there weren’t as many Asian beetles here as there were just down the road at our house!
Hoping you have a pest free week at your place!
Blessings!
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 ESV
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
Asian ladybugs. They don’t sound very lady like. I have had the lady like bugs and even bought them to eat aphids. Hope the biting. kind don’t show up here and they probably won’t as it’s currently 25. There is nary a leaf left on a single tree in my yard, and I’m glad, I’ve had to keep the pond totally covered to protect the pumps from the small leaves of the locust trees in the yard. Those leaves are everywhere and come inside no matter how hard I try to keep them outside where they belong. We had a strong wind one day this week and I was happy for it to blow the remaining leaves off the trees. Your walks however show beautiful trees still fully clothed in all their beauty. The weather forecast shows cold weather deep in the south this coming week. Enjoy a change and prepare accordingly. Have a blessed and healthy week ahead Richardsons,
Thank you Alice. Those Asian lady beetles were brought in years ago to eat aphids but now they’re a big problem. Maybe this cold which is coming will help out as far as the pests are concerned, but it will be a shock to the rest of us. Very windy too so things will definitely change quickly. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Good morning Butch and Pam, Beautiful foliage, reflections and sunset! Your grand girls look like they’re enjoying their tea party. We haven’t experienced the Asian lady beetle swarm, I hope we don’t! Happy Sunday and stay warm this coming week. ♥
Thank you Mary. Hope you don’t have the ladybug invasion. I think the coming extreme cold for this early in the season will maybe help out with the ladybugs and stink bugs. Have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
Our week sounded very similar to yours, weatherwise, but haven’t seen (nor do I want to see) those Asian ladybugs OR stink bugs! They’re saying we may have an accumulation of snow tomorrow morning, hope not, as we’re traveling. Have a good week, Butch and Pam.
Thank you Rita. Take care with your travels and hopefully the forecast will be wrong on the snow. The stink bugs have been very numerous here too. Have a safe week!
Butch and Pam
The photos of fall color are stunning. It has been too dry here for much fall color except for the tallow trees, aka popcorn trees as my husband calls them. We should have our first frost tonight as well if the winds die down. I remember the years we have had invasions of ladybugs. Awful! They were in every nook and cranny, even in the house.
Thank you Rachel. Our popcorn tree does have color but has also dropped a lot of leaves. We may get a hard freeze yet still be without a first frost because it is supposed to be very windy. We are vacuuming ladybugs every day, walls, ceiling, everywhere. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
I don’t know which was most captivating – the trees or the sweet eyes on those little faces! Enjoy your lovely surroundings. Everything is growing and changing before our eyes!
Thank you Leslie Anne. We love the trees but the eyes on the little ones have a way of melting our hearts. They kinda get what they want when they are with us. Have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
Looks like grandmother’s tea party meets grandfather’s tractor dreams! Wishing y’all many more sweet teas and muddy John Deere tires!💖💖💖
Thank you Mary. WL doesn’t seem to mind missing a tea party as long as we get some tractor or other boy time. Seems to be working out well. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
All the trees are gorgeous! We’re seeing pretty colors too. The wind is whipping here and the air is cold! It will be frigid a couple of days and then we return to fall weather again. The tea looks like fun but so do the tractor toys! The children are all adorable! Those biting ladybugs need to go! It’s bad enough to have mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers and red ants, but now biting ladybugs. Veterans Day should get a lot more attention. Those who served, especially in past, should be honored as they sacrificed so much for our nation. Hope you have a great week. Clara❤️
Thank you Clara. I did notice that we are to get back in the 70’s toward the end of the week. The biting bugs may make a resurgence. We certainly agree on honoring our veterans. I think Pam may have a post for Veterans Day. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
The photo of the ginkgo tree in town is wonderful. Sorry about the ladybugs, we used to get lots of them in New England but I’ve not spotted any here in Florida. We are going to get the cold weather as well but only down into the 40’s. I know you will hate to loose your lovely plants still in bloom to the cold weather.
Thank you Karen. We do still have a few things in bloom and I made a few photos today. Maybe I need to take more photos after the freeze to have a before and after. We understand the ladybugs leave a chemical behind that lingers and will attract next season’s bugs back to the same location. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
What a lovely stroll visiting all the pretty trees. Such fantastic colors! That tree from 2018 is incredible! Your sunrises and sunsets always grab my attention.
The girls enjoying tea is so fun to see. Pam must be tickled to have them enjoying a tea party in the sunshine Cottage.
They are all getting so big! WL included.
Thanks for another beautiful Sunday!
Stay warm, friends!
Thank you Nancy. It is cooling a bit but only a short cold spell for now. Pam and the girls really enjoy doing things out in the cottage. The Asian ladybugs were so bad they finally had to abandon the cottage and come into the house. Hopefully the cold snap will help with that. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
That Ginkgo tree is gorgeous. Love seeing your beautiful little grands. Just adorable. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris. The grands are a joy but growing up fast. Daniel too, won’t be long before he is in on the festivities. Have a splendid week!
Butch and Pam
Ugh, I got bitten by one of those ladybugs too, but I didn’t realize there was an invasion variety. Maybe the joro spiders will eat them. It’s so funny, all summer I’ve waited for fall to arrive. Now that we are headed for the deep freeze, all I can think is “how long to spring”! Tomorrow all the annuals I’ve lovingly watered for months will be mush. Those are some mighty cute country girls!!
Thank you Roxanne. I think the ladybug invaders are the biters. I just told Pam I was about ready for spring. This is a little early in the season for this weather and we hit 80 last week. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Butch, I always enjoy your Sunday posts. The brilliant yellow of the ginkgo tree is stunning. I recently returned from a shot visit to Basalt, CO. The aspen trees were bright yellow as were the cottonwood trees. It was a beautiful sight.
It’s a bit cooler here, but continues to warm again. I’m ready for sweater weather.
Fun to see those precious littles. You and Pam are so fortunate to have them close by. I know the girls enjoy tea in the sunshine cottage and WL was thrilled to have you all to himself.
Happy Autumn!
Thank you Sarah. We have sweater weather today, maybe big coat weather for a day or two. The aspens are amazing when they turn. We’ve not been in aspen country at the right time in several years now but have great memories and photos. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
WOW that last pic of the lake was a real beauty!!!! it SNOWED here today. It was just wispy flurries and of course didn’t stick as the ground is still warm – but yep, snow. I guess our month and a half of pure bliss perfect weather is now behind us. Was the longest most perfect autumn of all my long years. Hate to see it end. Two days ago I was wearing flip flops and a tee shirt – so this cold front came on FAST! Your tea grands sure were cute with those stunning teacups – and your grand boy is a cutie too being all manly with his grandpa. Great memories had by both sets of grands, it would seem. Have a blessed week.
Thank you Michele. We agree that it has been a really nice autumn. It looks like we will have a few really nice days at weeks end so we hope to enjoy those. Maybe it is time to move from tea to hot chocolate though. Have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
The trees aflame and last hurrah are beautiful. We received the cold blast
and Mum porch plants brought in for survival … a chilly night it was…
Back to thermostat negotiating season…..the winter gear at the ready.
All honor to the veterans who served our Nation with valor and sacrifice…
Yours looks like a great parade. The tea party was just what was needed to
hail the coming chill and the girls look so at home following this special ritual,
daintily tipping their teacups. Tis the season….
Thank you Mary. A chilly night it is shaping up to be here tonight. The last of the blooms were bid farewell and it’s off to Thanksgiving and Christmas. Pam has prepared a Veterans Day post for tomorrow. Our mums were showing signs of being about finished so I chose to leave them be. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Those colors are spectacular. And I just love the tea party — what darling photos of the girls!
Thank you Jeanie. We are cooling down now and hot chocolate seems like an appropriate choice. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
A delightful post as always Butch & Pam. That sunset is just stunning!
Blessings, Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer. We hope springtime is going well with you. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Oh wow, those trees are stunning!! The cutest photos, however, have to be those darling kids! The tea party in the Sunshine Cottage must’ve made the girls happy and little WL looks like he’s enjoying his special playtime. Thank you for the beautiful sunset photo. Have a great week 🍁
Thank you Kitty. The girls think tea parties and the like are really big deals. If I have the energy WL will sit for hours with me playing with all his tractors. He can outlast me however. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Stunningly beautiful autumn color photos!
Thank you Carole. Change has come. A light frost this morning in spots, first of the season for us. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
The tree photos are stunning in their colors, especially against that blue sky. Wow. But the grands definitely steal the show and I love that the girls had a tea party and WL got to play with tractors. So cute. Our leaves are long gone here, often by mid-October, depending on the weather so it is lovely to revisit the fall colors in your neck of the woods! I heard that there was some nasty cold weather headed your way – stay warm and cozy!
Thank you Kim. We had some locations around Alabama set record low temps for today’s date but you would probably chuckle about us thinking it was so cold. Our leaves will start disappearing off the trees soon and in fact some of that happened yesterday as winds were very strong. It was warm at the tea party though. Have a great week’
Butch and Pam
Thanks for yet another beautiful post. Your grandchildren sure are growing and absolutely precious! It looks like everyone had a fantastic time–boys and girls alike.
I’ve been thinking about planting a ginkgo tree in my yard, but am not sure I have enough space. There are several ginkgo trees in the park nearest my home. I love the unique shape of the leaves and its beautiful golden color in autumn.
Thank you Cindie. We do like our ginkgo trees. The female tree when mature does produce a stinky fruit and we have one that does that, but not a big deal. The grands are all growing too fast, the little guy is 9 months old today. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
The tree photos are so beautiful! God’s coloring book pages sure are special this time of year. The ladybug invasion sounds awful! I didn’t even know they bite! I hope the cold weather brings relief! God bless you all!
Thank you Cheryl. The cold slowed the ladybug invasion only while it was cold. Warm days are back and they are also back, more than ever. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam