By Sarina Rattler

As we enjoyed the cooler mornings this week, it was a clear reminder that fall is just around the corner. One of the earliest indicators of the season’s change are the serviceberry trees. These trees are quick to awaken in the spring and just as prompt to shed their leaves as autumn approaches. In fact, many of them have already lost their leaves for the year. It’s one of my most hopeful signs on the humid, miserable, late-summer days. Another harbinger of fall are the weeping cherries in the Parrot Ornamental Fruit Orchard. They don’t go as quietly as the serviceberries and leave the ground littered with their sign of surrender to the changing season.

The other hopeful sign for the imminent arrival of fall are the plethora of seeds and berries. If you’re a birder, it also means the imminent arrival of the migratory birds passing through. Some of the most notable berries this early in the season are the different hollies and the hearts-a-busting shrubs. In the sunnier areas, the berries on these shrubs are beginning to turn color. Some black-eyed Susans are still flowering, while some have gone to seed. These seeds seem to be a favorite of the American goldfinches that visit Hurley Park. Their cheerful chirps and bright yellow feathers are a joyful reminder of the season’s tide change.

Despite the falling leaves and plants going to seed, there’s still plenty of floral beauty to enjoy. This week, I noticed the first goldenrods blooming in the Fuller Perennial Garden. The “Fireworks” cultivar, in particular, is known for its striking display. On the ground, spider lily buds are just beginning to emerge, and in a few weeks, we’ll be treated to the purple and white hues of asters throughout the park.

As fall unfolds, there’s much to appreciate in our local parks. Whether it’s the unique seed pods or catching those late blooms, this season offers a picturesque opening to the finale of the year.

For updates about Hurley Park, follow us on Facebook or Instagram @HurleyParkNC. You can also donate to Hurley Park by visiting our website at salisburync.gov/hurleypark. If you have any additional questions or would like to book the park for an event, please give us a call at 704-638-5298.

Sarina Rattler is public garden manager for Salisbury Parks and Rec.