Driving back from Boston through the Berkshires, I was struck by how pale the autumn colors were. It was a little early, I thought to myself, but the yellows and reds spreading across the canopy just seemed less vibrant than usual.

Do I have cataracts thinning the color spectrum from before my eyes? Not yet. It has to do with the long dry summer diminishing the vibrancy of autumn flames.

Half of Ontario County is in severe drought and the other half moderately dry. That’s according to the federal government’s Drought.gov. But the Feds don’t have too many folks working just now, so it may be out of date after that last rain. Still, it’s doubtful one rain made up for months of deficit.

Wayne County is about the same as Ontario, while Yates and Seneca are in the moderate category. Little wonder. The average high for us in September........

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