We've had the same thing in North Georgia. Very dry, and the air quality is also suffering. It rained for about 15 minutes here the other day and I did a big long happy dance, but it didn't work for long. I'm glad you found some beautiful colors. Cuties are resourceful that way. :)
the mountains make up for the lack luster leaves & I know just what you mean we were there about 3 weeks ago & we thought that very same thing. Must be the lack of rainfall?
I live in Tennessee and can agree with you about the dullness of the fall leaf colors. But, they are still beautiful. I wake up each morning, grab a cup of coffee and watch the sun make the leaves twinkle..... I used to live in California where there is a terrible drought.
My sister lives just north of Asheville, in Mars Hill, and says the colors are not as vivid as usual. I spent most of July and August there with her, and when it rained, it was on specific areas. On the way home from Ashville, it would be pouring, but by the time we got up into her mountains ( 3 miles in from Tenn.) there was none. But, boy when it does rain there, straight down and hard.
I Had noticed the same. Colors are just not as vivid as in the past. Glad you found some in a a quilt shop.