As the dining room opened yesterday evening (the last day of August) I was totally shocked by the burst of yellow leaves just outside the windows.  A single birch tree (young in age) had turned color literally overnight.  I know it was green on Tuesday; but now it is dressed in yellow splendor, an amazing sight.  Maybe it is the lack of rain, perhaps the shortening of daylight (the sun now sets before 8 each evening) or a combination of both.   There is no denying that fall is in the air, despite todays warmer temperatures into the low 80's.