But its not an unfruitful time of year for the berries are turning their final colors and either hardening or drying out for the season. Some of these berries provide food for still wandering Winter wildlife. They also give humans a break from the endless white landscape. Berries include common pokeweed, serviceberry, winterberry, buttonbush, crabapple, and dogwood (I think). Still flowers like ironweed, buckwheat, white Aster, and yellow can be found around lake amongst the dead leaves that nourish the ground for next year.
The grasshoppers (along with other insects) are not seen hopping around as much now. A dark brown one just escaped me as it headed towards water. Wanting and hoping. It will be back next year though.
As temperatures get down into 50s everything seems to be dying away in its own way yet at a stalemate. That stalemate is no longer subject to the wilting heat of Summer or the slowing growth of early Fall, its a response to overall environment that gives the first call of Winter by making nights lower than 50s or making plants more vulnerable when the first frost hits. You can feel it in the tender dandelion left behind. The petals a rubbery feel as they long for Spring again.