Of note, moderately dry is not far from normal for this time of year here.  We had a splash of rain earlier this week, and the nights have been down in the lower 50F range with good humidity.  Ash trees are showing quite a bit of yellow, plums and pears are about ready to harvest - maybe a week early.  Grass is all dried up.  Insects, birds, and animals are quickly attracted to watering.  The gardens need daily water.  Deer nibbled the blossoms off my potatoes.  Blackberries have been plentiful, now quite a few clusters are simply drying up on the vines. Soil that is bare and not watered may be showing cracks.  Fire danger is high, and in the afternoons, it is important to be careful with the tools one uses in the forest.  A nearby farmer has quit watering his hay and is beginning to put it up - it looks rather short.  mornings have been smoky due to the fires up by Ripplebrook, but people have been outside working, exercising, and playing.  Motorcycles are common on the roads.