It’s the first Friday in October. I walked around the ponds this afternoon. The afternoon was beautiful–blue sky, some wispy white clouds, a light breeze. Temperatures were in low 80s, but there is a supposed to be a cool-down this weekend.

The spider lilies are just about over for the season. This one is still vibrant. I brought the bulbs or tubers from my parents’ home thirty-eight years ago. They are still blooming.

Goldenrod and fleabane are in full bloom. My nose was running and my eyes itching when I came back inside. It is fall allergy season. Time to get out the anithistamines and allergy medicine.

One of the photography challenges I have is capturing the transparency of foliage when the sun shines through the leaves. I keep trying, though. And following the concept of wabi sabe, I did not try to edit out the dark spots on this beautiful leaf. There is beauty in the imperfection.

This is the homestretch. I walked across the dam between the Big Pond and the Pond behind the Big Pond (yes, those are the official names of the two ponds. All seven ponds have names.) The willow tree is beginning to turn to gold.

It will be interesting to see the changes around the pond next month on the first Friday.