The insect sounds are still pretty much the summer sounds--katydids, some cicadas, but we had our 17 year bout a year or so ago.

I am really starting to notice the fragrance of late summer flowers. Tuberoses, sweet autumn clematis, moonflowers, are just starting to bloom and to scent the night air. Why are so many fragrant flowers white?

I'm wondering why the swallowtail butterflies are not on my bronze fennel. Maybe they arrive to lay their eggs closer to fall and I just haven't noticed.

The golden orbs haven't gotten busy here yet either, but all summer I have admired the dew shimmering on the webs of the cape-and-doily spiders in the boxwoods.

The birds don't warble as much as when they were courting in spring, but love songs gave way to chirps of 'feed me' and now to squawks of 'get out of the house you lazy bum of a kid and feed yourself!'

J.