The leaf-covered lawns and acorn-coated driveway indicated it is autumn but the sunny, warm weather made it feel like summer. So we took advantage of the unseasonably mild conditions to get a start on our annual attempt to keep up with Mother Nature.
Serenaded by white-breasted nuthatches and Carolina wrens we relocated the acorns to our compost bin and began raking the leaves toward our shrub lines. Since our sawtooth oaks have not yet dropped the majority of their leaves, we gave their locations a wide berth. After all, our raking efforts have always been staged, even more so in recent years.
Though the recent and upcoming chill was and will be welcome, especially after our long, hot summer, a brief, mild interlude is always appreciated when outdoor chores are pending. After a period of recovery, we'll resume our work next weekend.
