This week finishes with conditions mildly dry. A total of 0.22 inches of rain fell early in the week which was supplemented by very high humidities throughout the week. Surface soils are somewhat dry. Bird activity around the feeders is curiously absent. Deciduous trees are still a deep lush green but some of the shorter shrubs are beginning to yield to autumn. Corn stalks are just beginning to transition from green to tan. Temperatures in the mid-80s by late in the week countered the earlier rains and high humidities, thoroughly drying out lawns by mid-afternoon. The high daytime temperatures and tolerable Lake Michigan water continue to draw people to the beach along with other outdoor activities. Roadside farm stands and local produce markets are packed with all sorts of local fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Pumpkins are beginning to show up and several varieties of apples are now getting pressed into cider. Although the days are noticeably shorter and schools are back in session, summer continues to hang on.