With Labor Day approaching, I am starting to feel a bit like the sentinel-like sunflowers in the front yard. A month ago they were tall and erect, holding their heads high, soaking in rays. Now, each weighed down with hundreds of seeds, they are bent over appearing to have a vegetative osteoporosis. Their petals are shriveled and pollinators are ignoring them having done their job. The still yellow stamens sit atop the newly formed seeds waiting to be brushed off by a passing bird, squirrel or other creature looking for a fresh snack. Or perhaps I will beat them to it if I have the opportunity.
But there is no denying it: Summer is coming to an end. A crisp breeze this morning has the local schoolchildren swapping out shorts and t-shirts for long pants and hoodies. The first leafs are scattered on the lawn. And the sun, like me, is rising just a little later each day.
