Cricket songs

Crickets were singing as I went out to the grocery store this evening.  I don't know what species they were, but they were noteworthy, as we've had frost on the ground the last few mornings.

I wondered if perhaps they'll be the last night singers of the season.  The cold snap followed (and accompanied) the last of the monarchs and a final hummingbird on Oct. 24.

Fall color is lovely now in the Piedmont (in the Southern US).  The clear yellows of the hickories, reds and oranges of the maples are evident, and the rich reds and tans of the oaks - not to mention the scarlet of sourwood and sumac!