Seasons of Mists and Mello Fruitfulness

There is a subtle change in the air.

Cool mist-filled mornings, and daytime temperatures are seasonably pleasant.

Trees are slowly changing from greens to oranges and browns,  Autumn is unmistakably around the corner.

 

 

 

 
 

"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;

To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,

For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells."

~ John Keats
 

Seasons Changing

Over the last couple of days, the remains of hurricane Irma has taken away our sunshine.

The dark clouds linger overhead, making for dark and dreary days. 

If I didn't know the difference I would think we were in the depths of winter, even the house has taken on a different hue.

The days are noticeably shorter,  dark by 7:15pm now, the wild turkeys lead their flocks to the nightly roost late afternoon, and the last of the hummingbirds are leaving for their winter homes.

Orange pumpkins and Chrysanthemums are replacing summer blooms, now fading fast.

 

 

The Calm Before The Storm

It is hard to imagine on a gloriously calm day like today, there is a monster lurking in the ocean, just waiting to pounce.

My heart goes out to all the people affected, by Harvey,  and now Irma lashing her way towards the state of Florida and beyond.

Thinking of flowers, and gardens, and winsome delights at this time seems somewhat paltry and inconsequential.

If you are in the hurricane's path, please adhere to the warnings, evacuate if you are able.

I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

God Bless.

 

 

Seeing Spots

If you are a frequent visitor to my blog, undoubtedly you know we share our property with White-tailed deer.

Several years ago I counted a herd of forty, regularly co-existing on our little green space, happily munching away on anything they set their mind to.

Nowadays the numbers are more like seven, three of which are new fawns, a set of twins, and one other.

They visit daily, and live in the surrounding bush and woods, drinking from the birdbaths, and have become quite tame.

I've moaned and carried on about the flowers they eat willy-nilly, but I can't help but smile each time they appear.

 

 

 

 

Summer's Last Smile

The last of the Summer flowers are giving us one final show.

The temperatures fell into the fifties last night.

Sweater-grabbing crisp air, the likes of which has not been seen since early Spring.

We're enjoying a day of quiet time , wishing you the same, on this last long holiday of summer.

 

 

 

 

 

A Sunday Indulgence

Enjoying a taste of the last Summer strawberries.

I'm freezing the remainder, to indulge in, on a cold Winter's day.

Topped with a dollop of clotted cream, or maybe use them to make a  lovely batch of strawberry scones.

Accompanied by a nice pot of tea.

*grin*

 

 

 

September

 

"September days have the warmth of summer in their briefer hours,

But in their lengthening evenings a prophetic breath of autumn.
The cricket chirps in the noontide, making the most of what remains of his brief life.
The bumblebee is busy among the clover blossoms of the aftermath,
And their shrill and dreamy hum hold the outdoor world above the voices of the song birds,
Now silent or departed."-
 

~ September Days : Rowland E. Robinson, Vermont
 

Watching

Oliver sits beside me when I spend time on the computer.

I'm sure he wonders what could possibly be the attraction.

 

Through The Garden Gate

Rain today.

It makes for happy flowers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weaving Their Way

The Morning Glory vines are weaving their tendrils along the garden fence.

It takes an entire season before the flowers bloom, and then for one single day, they shine.

 

 

Autumn's Calling

Despite sultry August days, subtle signs of changing seasons are all around.
Summer days are noticeably shorter. There is a cooler rush to the evening air.
Down on  main street the shopkeepers are displaying their Autumn flowers, and the feel of changing seasons is afoot.
The Summer's Gold Lantana blooms heartily,  as if it knows Summer's loveliest smile, is fleeting.

 

Moonstruck

We are set to watch the Great American Total Solar Eclipse tomorrow.

The skies will darken all the way from Oregon to South Carolina.

The path travels across our county, and for a whole two minutes and thirty seven

seconds, we will find ourselves in darkness in the middle of the day.
Hopefully, if we are lucky,  we'll be able to view the planet Venus, and stars in the solar system.

Scientists tell us we are in for an unforgettable experience.
Magical !

 

Emerald Ash Borer

Sadly, we are experiencing a serious problem in our neck of the woods.

Emerald Ash Borer disease has made it's way here, and we are loosing trees left, right and center.

Beautiful, majestic trees, that have graced our landscape for more than a century.

There is very little hope of saving an Ash tree, once it has been infected, eventually it will die, and will need to be removed.

The disease has now been reported in almost every state.

 

 More information can be read HERE

Nesting Day

It's a dark and dreary Monday to start off our week.

Rainfall is expected throughout the day, and the songbirds have taken to their nests.

The candles are glowing, and the unmistakable aroma of simmering meatloaf fills the kitchen.

Two portly kitties are curled up in the chairs, and the house has fallen eerily silent.

 

🏠

 

Oliver Love

What greater gift than the love of a cat?

~Charles Dickens

 

Wildflower Beauty

One of the sure signs, that Summer is waning, is the return of the Passion Flowers.

 

Resembling something of an underwater sea-creature, the Passion Flower resides far from the ocean, in land-locked Tennessee.
It was first named as the official state flower in 1919 and then in 1939 the iris was also named the state flower. In 1973 legislation was passed designating the passion flower as the state wildflower and the iris as the state cultivated flower.

Also known as the maypop, wild apricot and the Ocoee, passion flowers grow wild in the southern United States and South America. Ocoee is the Indian name for the passion flower (also used in the name of the Ocoee River and valley in Tennessee and the city of Ocoee in Florida). American Indians considered Ocoee the most beautiful of flowers.
I can't help but agree.

 

Summer's Gold

"Oh, the summer night
Has a smile of light
And she sits on a sapphire throne."

- Barry Cornwall