It might as well be spring

People think we don't have seasons in southern California, but we really do - although it's subtle. Summer in the Santa Monica Mountains is dry and sere. Our hillsides turn brown. Some of our deciduous trees, like the Mexican elderberry, drop their leaves after they fruit in July - they look dead by September.

It's clearly fall, because it's cooler, the evenings are darker, and the ocean fog is back, roaring up the canyon like pumped from a hose. But the first noticeable sign of season change is the fall sprouting of annual winter grasses. Unlike colder climates, where the grass waits till spring, here after the first fall rain, the hills begin to clothe themselves in soft green tender grass.

Jack was so delighted to see the fresh green blades of grass he delicately nibbled at them on our morning walk.

Another clear sign of autumn is Jack shedding his summer coat - which we'll have to deal with soon!