Beyond Rivalry

Yeah, I know, that's not what the calendar says, but Cold Climate Gardening says it's true: "Today is the first day of autumn if you garden in a cold climate in the Northern Hemisphere, that is. Just as spring comes much later than the supposed first day of spring (the vernal equinox), so the first day of autumn comes much earlier than the first day of autumn (the autumnal equinox). You have to go by what the weather and the plants tell you, not by what the calendar says." 

And unfortunately, I have corroboration ... I saw a half-red maple leaf on the ground this past weekend. Oh, alas.

Let's cheer ourselves with some hydrangea photos, shall we?

Hydrangeas, Aug. 2006