She Waited

I was somewhat deflated on our ride home to see leaves in browns and grays and faded khaki, but no golds or coppers or reds. We had been told that autumn would be muted due to the heavy rains earlier. But when I got to my yard I saw my faithful sugar maple, an alien to this area, throwing off her best colors in the angled fall sunlight.

The two-year-old mum waved her complimentary colors in the foreground.

I never get the leaves as bug-free, but decorated in lacy teeth marks.

I even have many zinnias still in bloom!