In the shrinking sunlight of early October, life in Central Appalachia's forests and fields shows no signs of slowing down. A proliferation of asters and goldenrods fuels an insect feeding frenzy, at the same time ensuring that a late season eruption of seeds before the first frost will bring new life in the spring. From top: dog tooth lichen (Peltigera canina), also known as felt lichen, whose lobes are tipped by red apothecia ; large cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon), which dot wet mountain meadows and bogs; crooked-stemmed aster (Symphyotrichum prenanthoides); brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba), which blooms later than black-eyed Susan and has three-lobed basal leaves; a bumblebee (Bombus) taking nectar from purple-stemmed aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum), also known as swamp aster; an American hoverfly (Eupeodes americanus) similarly drinking from purple-stemmed aster; blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium); question mark butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis); and wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa), also known as rough-leaf goldenrod.