Ken, the recent cooler weather here has unleashed the gorgeous colors of the leaves. Enjoy.

Carla

Welcome to a cooler zone. I think you'll appreciate your roses even more since they're not always blooming (If everyday is a sunny day, what's a sunny day?), plus you'll have time to engage in that favorite fall/winter activity...plotting and ordering more roses.

Eric

There are some roses that even have great color in their leaves.
And the weeds slow down, too.
And in the summer, walk into shade and it's a different temperature than out in the sunlight.
Seasons are good.

The park ranger at the nearby nature park was saying that everyone was coming and picking the brilliant red leaves (the few that turn color here)...of the...poison oak! Oops! He had to put up warning signs everywhere.

I hope you are really happy in your new home! It sounds beautiful and bucolic--something we hunger for here.