Aster seedhead, millpond

It's still Indian summer warm, but the welcome showers have arrived and made the trekking, to say nothing of the photographic documentation, a "pick your spots" challenge. In a brief dry spell, I made a quick trip down to the millpond waterfall again, this time to check on the possibility of late blossoms on the asters and goldenrods. But the fierce cold snap and genuinely killing frosts had encouraged the flowers to call it quits and get on with the business of carrying on the generations. All the blossom spikes had quickly made fuzzy seed heads, which were now playing a waiting game as the potential progeny matured. In the not-too-distant future, next spring's asters and goldenrods-to-be—these are asters, by the way—will be ready to fly and easily detached by the slightest of breezes. For now, they're getting ready, packing their proverbial bags and waiting for a lift.