If you've cruised through parts of Mt. Pleasant's downtown lately, you might notice that some of the maple leaves have a black blotches on the leaves.

I noticed it a couple of years ago while living north of downtown. Now, living just west of downtown (between downtown and the Chippewa River south of Broadway), I can see it again.

From what I've gathered, it appears to be something called Tar Spots. Not lethal, probably no need to worry.

On the other hand, if you've got a garden, or have driven past a garden or farmer's field and seen the cucurbit leaves wilting under a dense sheet of white ... it's a mildew, and it's killing the plants.

Most of my squash is already gone. The summer squash especially has taken a beating (almost luckily, since I've got so much of it these days I'm just giving it away), and although I ought to get enough winter -- acorn and butternut especially -- squash to last me the winter, those will soon succumb, too.