Almost Done

A few asters, goldenrods, and eupatoriums are hanging on, but mostly the wildflower show in the Potomac Gorge is done for the year. That means it’s time to watch for other interesting things, like autumn leaves, the shapes of bare tree branches silhouetted against the sky, foggy sunrises and clear sunsets. And seeds. Like these seedpods of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) that were just opening on the riverbank near Lock 8 in mid-October.