It appears that this might not be a brilliant-colored autumn. We didn't have the severe droughts of other areas of the country, but we did have a dry spell that came at exactly the wrong time.
There is also a maple fungus appearing in this area this year. Fortunately, it's not lethal to the trees (Mom has four 40-year-olds in her yard) but it is ugly ugly ugly...and means raking and bagging must be scrupulous. Oh boy.