clusters in the garden

Everywhere I look these days I'm seeing "bunches."  Sometimes it's good, like (finally) fruit to harvest from the tomato vines:

I thought I'd been watering a lost cause!

and berries on the Viburnum hedge:

Robins have been gorging themselves on these!

Even insects are crowding together:

I understand ~ I've been seeking the warmth of a sweatshirt in the early AM's & PM's too.

There are a few clusters I'd rather not see. 

Like these oak galls found abundantly on the undersides of the Bur Oak leaves:

At least I now know why I have so MANY yellow jackets on the Mugo Pine (that grows beneath the oak.)  The galls secrete a sweet substance the bees eat.  I'm hoping a neem oil application next spring will help because I'm frustrated at not being able to enjoy the front patio area.

I've also noticed quite a few Tachinid flies, this one on a cluster of aster blooms:

Too many Tachinids could spell disaster for the caterpillars recently discovered in the garden. 

One thing I've been looking for all summer and wishing I'd see in multiples ~ toads.  Finally, at the edge of summer, an appearance:

Hoping for greater numbers next summer. 

So many other "groupings" not photographed ~ flocks of geese flying overhead morning and evening,  gatherings of starlings ~ sorry, but I won't miss them at all ~ etc., etc.  No matter how hard I try to deny the arrival of fall, there's no escaping.  The change is in motion as evidenced in the garden.  I'm sure you've noticed it too...

Comments

[Dana]

Great pics Kathleen. Didn't like seeing the gaul on your Bur Oak, but that does explain the Yellow Jackets. Hope you can get rid of it. Fall is definitely in the air...very cool in Denver today and raining hard tonite. Not ready!

[Jennifer]

Hi Kathleen, Fall is definitely in the air! This morning it is downright frosty. To be honest, I haven't paid any attention to clusters of things, and I really like the idea of fine tuning my focus to make sure I don't miss an opportunity to note them before we head into winter. Your pictures are great as always.

[Helen]

Lovely pictures, I especially like the one of Ladybirds. I've never seen them enmasse like that

[Janet, The Queen of Seaford]

Boy that toad really blends in, doesn't he?
Looking forward to some cooler weather...want to have the windows open at night to hear the owls.
Love ladybugs....though not keen on them getting in the house.

[Kala]

Lovely selective focus in the image of the oak galls.

[PlantPostings]

Yes, no denying it now--not to mention the frost warnings and the drooping plants after the cold nights. Oh well, it has to happen eventually. At least we have colorful leaves, Apples, and Pumpkins to look forward to!

[Grace]

Great photos. The seasons, they are a changin'... And I'm not too happy about it either.