This still beauty will soon go in the basement, or down cellar as we Mainers put it.
As for the live butterflies…they are gone, along with the dragonflies. Last night, I listened for crickets but couldn’t hear any. I’ll listen tonight, too, but they might be gone as well.
October, with all this loss, it’s a good thing you’re so beautiful.
Notes From the Hinterland 
One by one, bit by bit, winter’s stillness encroaches…
Yes, a season of subtraction.
Yes, it is a good thing October is so beautiful, we still have the odd butterfly here even though the leaves are beginning to fall xxx
Lovely photograph.
It’s good to have a reserve butterfly up your sleeve so as to speak.
Sure is!
The only sound I hear outdoors in the evenings is the sound of leaves falling and they have really been falling the last few days. Love the final butterfly shot of the season and your final sentence!
Thanks so much! For me, it is always sad when the crickets stop singing. I know it is part of the cycle. But still!
Always sad to see the end of the season, and then the crickets going… sad. However, we have magpies nesting near our bedroom window and they have taken to warbling softly to each other at 3.00 am in the morning… so this could be our downside to spring!
Yes, so sad. I always love hearing birdsong in the spring, although some birds have better voices than others. However, warbling softly doesn’t sound too bad. 😉
Poignant last sentence
Thanks so much, Derrick.
I agree with Derrick–that last line says it all!
Many thanks, Kerry!
I agree on the last sentence..very poignant..🌞
Thanks so much!
Another beautiful and touching post! Also a reminder of how different Southern California life is. We feed hummingbirds and other birds all year long here and we are still hatching out the last monarchs to join the great migration…so the season’s changes are not as radical…We will be buried in fall leaves from our huge walnut tree in front and from our very tall sycamore in back. I tease my husband that he will have a personal relationship with each of the thousand plus leaves since he rakes continually so we are not ankle deep in leaves all fall.
Thanks, Betsy! I love the description of where you live! Ever think of blogging?
Lovely post Laurie. 🙂
Thanks, Quercus.
A season of loss. All our summer visiting birds have gone but the winter visiting birds haven’t arrived yet so we are quiet – except at night when the owls are hooting fit to bust!
I love the colours in your photo, Laurie. Au revoir, butterfly!
Au revoir is right! Always a little sad.
Laurie, I notice the crickets, too, and it was a very short cricket season this year in northern Illinois.
So sad when their lovely voices are silenced.