Philadelphia on September 1 saw the passage of a rare hurricane in these parts: Ida.  16 hurricane warnings were issued and 5 tornadoes were confirmed in the area around the city. Very heavy rain fell everywhere.

 

The Schuylkill River  – one of the city’s two rivers and a tributary of the Delaware River which is its second river – was expected to crest a little above 17′ for the first time in its history.

 

Extensive flooding along the length of the river and in low-lying areas of the city.  Extensive building damage also.

 

No deaths were reported for the city that I know of;  but at least 8 people died in the area around the city.  The toll in New Jersey and New York was expected to total almost 50 deaths for the North East as a result of the passage of this hurricane.

 

 

 

 

The ribbon of brown is a major intersate highway – Interstate 676 – which runs through the center of the city.  It was completely submerged in water and is still impassable.

Mark Henninger/Magic Digital

 

 

 

A local man drinks a beer while floating in floodwater over the submerged Interstate 676, following a huge storm caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida on Sept. 2, 2021, in Philadelphia.

  Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images

 

 

 

Vehicles under water during flooding  in a low-lying area of Philadelphia, Sept. 2, 2021 very close to the city’s center after the passage of hurricane Ida.

Photo by Matt Rourke for AP

 

 

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Mt. Cuba, Hockessin, Delaware on September 3 whose park and gardens were not damaged by the passage of hurricane Ida.

Many plants seemed to have bloomed two weeks early this year.  The flowers of others were more spare than in other years.

 

Goldenrod (Solidago) of several varieties are in full bloom.  Some varieties are very tall and fall down with heavy rain or without.

 

 

 

 

Ironweed  (Vernonia) also in full flush with some varieties tall enough to form archways

 

 

 

 

Witches brooms of white pine – planted in their own coven – emerge dramatically into view now that the flowers have faded around them and foliage of surrounding bushes have begun to wilt 

 

 

 

The maturing of the golden-blue-red grasses of the meadow garden beyond can be seen through the lower boughs of this tree.

Black-eyed susans are also still in bloom along the edges of the meadow garden

 

 

 

 

Here are grasses under a flowering dogwood in the meadow garden.

The grasses mature in October and November when the meadow appears to be aflame with surrounding trees in autumn colours and the grasses ablaze.

 

 

 

Yellow Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutrans)

 

 

 

(White) hyssop leaf thoroughwart (Eupatorium hyssopifolium) floating in the meadow under big bluestem grass.  False indigo is in seed here also. 

 

 

Cardinal flowers (Lobelia cardinalis) bloom through the summer and into late September

 

 

 

Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum).  Like a hallelujah chorus.

 

 

 

Caterpillars of a butterfly species (I don’t know which) feeding on leaves of a fothergilla bush

 

 

 

 

At the back of the house, pots of a variety of heuchera, set out for Autumn, face the Virginia sweetspire running along the edge of the house’s terrace.  Beyond a view of a part of the Appalachian piedmont.

 

 

 

 

Markers of the change of season all these, unexpected as some of these have been and very difficult for many people

 

and a warning of catastrophes to come…