No grandeur here. Todays issue of my growing up years hometown newspaper has this picture and article on the front page. Country churches were established to provide a place for worship in close proximity to the residents scattered around a certain area. For instance, the Oak Ridge Union Church has served families in the Erhard, McCartney and Oak Ridge areas since 1906 when some men of different denominations determined the need for a central place of worship for everyone; a place where those from various religious persuasions would feel comfortable. As people have moved from the country to towns and cities, and travel is more efficient than the days of horse and buggy, country churches would seem unnecessary. But, they are still strong and operate with a determination to provide what their founders intended - a place of worship for people in the small communities where they live.

I've been seeing a lot of these clouds this fall. My friend Jennie calls them "Old Testament clouds." Your Matrona is darker (and prettier) than my Autumn Joy. Maybe my Autumn Joy is tastier. :-)

I agree about the milky spore. We spread it over our grass, and it kept the Japanese beetles away for over 10 years. I can't afford to do it now, so I'm expecting them in a couple of weeks. My flower garden, 2016 style:

Nicole, I have had a couple other varieties of Spurge that I would call invasive, but not Polychroma. Both my daughter and I have been growing it for years and find it easily controlled. Rarely have I had it reseed, and even then it is easily removed or transplanted. We do cut it back after flowering, just cause it looks better and keeps it from flopping open as it gets taller. Now, Spurge Chameleon is invasive. I have been fighting it for 17 years. Pulled out 2 plants of it yesterday. It shows up every year in the most unexpected places.