Diane photographed this distinctive fly on a black-eyed Susan. These guys overwinter as adults and can be found in barns, sheds, as well as houses sometimes. The yellow haired thorax is distinctive. Also, the way these flies hold their wings when at rest is also distinctive... they are crossed over the back rather than held apart like many flies, especially the Muscidae which they most closely resemble.

Another view of the grasshopper by Diane.

This little caterpillar will, next summer, turn into the beautiful day-flying Ctenucha moth, but it has to go through a few more instars yet! It will overwinter as a caterpillar and next spring we'll see quite a few of these around the garden, looking a bit different from here. Check out our Moth gallery for other views.

This is a good time of year to look for mushrooms. Even though it's getting cold, they seem to pop up, sometimes in great quantities, after a rainy day. I think this one is an Elfin Saddle (Helvella crispa), although it's a bit hard to tell as I believe it's been stepped on. It was in the Ash Woodlot where we've found this species before.

I love this mushroom (Hypsizygus ulmarius) as I was able to identify it using a key on the Mushroom Expert web site. It also turns up every year at this time, growing on a Camperdown Elm tree near our Ash Woodlot. The mushrooms grow out of the cut off or broken ends of branches. The combination of pristine white, perfectly shaped mushrooms and gnarled tree branches makes an interesting photo.

I think sumac really comes into its own in the fall. I can't help taking dozens of photos because all the leaves look different. Some are a vivid orange, others are red, some are yellow, many are multicoloured. And when the sun shines through, they are a visual treat. But sumacs also produce seeds which help animals through the winter, particularly toward the end of the season, when most other natural food sources have vanished.