The Changing Of The Light
I find the plants, as they begin to transition to another season, are so interesting to watch.
The incremental changes that happen every year command my attention.
“A fallen leaf is nothing more than a summer’s wave goodbye.” – Unknown
The yellow roses are making a comeback. I like to go out on the patio every few hours and watch the tight little buds unfold little by little.
As the day goes on, the petals reveal what they’ve been hiding, a lovely lady going on stage in one of the last performances before fall.
I’m glad I planted the little morning glory starts that popped up all over in the 6-8 inches of dirt that is between the cement and the fence bordering the alley. And also in the strip of dirt, about four feet of it and of the same width, along the back.
Next year I’ll plant them on my neighbor’s fence to the side of me. Then they will be on all three sides. I hope my new neighbor, who will move in at the end of the month, likes morning glories and will maybe pull the weedy vines on her side.
Mounds of morning glories now grow above the fence like praying hands reaching up toward the sky.
I don’t know if the male neighbor behind me enjoys the flowers reaching over into his yard or not. I keep pulling the weed vines coming from his yard into mine.
Why won’t anyone pull those darned weed vines that take over if you let them? It’s like fighting a losing battle when it’s just me trying to pull them from between gaps in the fence.
But then the other neighbors around me don’t seem to really enjoy their patios. They just sit unused with weedy vines growing up the fences.
What a waste of precious space.
It is fun to watch the sedum autumn joy change and deepen in shade, marching right up to fall.
Watch the bee as it lights on the morning glory flower and quickly disappears inside.
Below is a cone flower making a reappearance in the slightly cooler weather.
It will give me a few flowers to remember it by, then fade away into fall in bristly brown balls.
I like to watch the shifting of the light. Always ever changing.
I read online that starting on the first day of winter, the days begin to get longer (in the northern hemisphere) bit by bit, and the nights get shorter.
Then the first day of summer is the longest day of the year, and each day after gets just a little shorter.
It’s like a timer, always ticking down the minutes.
Everything changes. And everything, in some ways, stays the same.
“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.” – Stanley Horowitz
Dear Anonymous- I am sorry that some times we do not speak with thoughtful voices. You are so right about the lack of understanding- or the rush to judgement.I hope that whatever you are going through at this time- soon passes. Wishes for brighter days being sent your way.
You write my favorite blog. Here’s why:
1. You write every day
2. You don’t whine and complain
3. You love dogs.
4. You appreciate the beauty of nature
5. You relish the small things
Thank you so much for bringing a bright spot into every day.
I so totally agree with you Gail 🙂
There are many reasons that someone does not decorate their porch and door. There are many reasons that someone does not use their outdoor space. Maybe it’s because of health issues or lack of money. Or maybe that person is not into gardening or decorating…should they do it just for you?
Maybe the person that lives there is sad because they used to plant flowers, hang wreaths and enjoy their outdoor space but can’t do it at the present time. Like me. Some of these comments really made me sad that some of y’all would think these thoughts as you’re driving or walking past my house.
To Anonymous: It is easy to express our opinions without taking time to know the person whose shoes we are not walking in. We need to not make judgements about others when we aren’t familiar with their circumstances. and are unable to understand their actions or feelings. I think it’s important to use our imaginations and try to understand where the other person is coming from before making judgements. And sometimes we just CAN’T know or understand so it’s best, to be compassionate regarding the person’s actions or opinions, nevertheless. I’m sorry that you felt judged by some of the readers’ comments. That is because they haven’t been in your shoes and aren’t aware of how their opinions might affect someone like you. Now, they should know a bit better, I hope because you took the time to tell all of us. And I want you all to know that when I speak about making judgements without knowing the circumstances of a person’s life, I do include myself in doing that also. I am not so perfect that I don’t sometimes fail to try to understand others’ feelings and situations and to have compassion for them. It’s called reacting without thinking. May we all do our best to not react without thinking.
I love that quote about the leaf, so sweet.
Your garden is spectacular and so well thought out. Your morning glories make me so happy because they bring back so many memories from my childhood playing in my grandparents back yard, they had tons of them and my siblings and I would pluck off the leaves and make mud tacos and other assorted foods from them.
Have a wonderful night! I hope Charlie is feeling better.
That sounds like fun. I’ve never heard of mud tacos.
Brenda, lovely photos. The days get shorter in the fall and winter so the nights are longer. That is why it is getting dark earlier even now. Then we have daylight savings time that upsets my routine and sleep. I saw butterflies today that usually fly by in the middle of October.
I will see a butterfly through the patio door but it is gone by the time I get out there. I’ll keep trying.
I can’t imagine someone having outdoor space and not using it. Kind of sad, really. Your morning glories are gorgeous. I can grow just about anything except morning glories and moon flowers. If you mix those, Brenda, when the morning glories close at night the moon flowers open. Just beautiful.
Hope you have a great Wednesday. xo Diana
That was me posting, Brenda. I forgot I have to add name, everything whenever I leave you a comment.
I have grown moon flowers. I think next year I will again.
Thought you might like this about a garden found it on facebook.
A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; It teaches industry and thrift; Above all it teaches entire trust. – Gertrude Jekyll
Love it! I have a whole Pinterest board on garden quotes.
I love the picture of the bee going into the flower.
I am just fascinated with these things. So I stand and watch and photograph.
We are starting into fall here. Very cool at night and warm during the day but not hot more in the 70’s which is beautiful weather. So some of my summer plants are still hanging on. I love seeing all your pretties in your garden. Have a good week.
Kris
Of course warmer than that here. But still not horrid heat.
I am not “anonymous”, don’t know why the rest didn’t post. I’ll try it again!
No worries.
It is so sad for someone to have a nice patio space and not use it. I just cringe when I am driving around and see a beautiful porch and not one chair or decoration on it. It makes it look so sad! Or people that only put one chair on their porch, don’t they have a friend that might like to sit with them. I have been cleaning up our yard for fall too. It is sad to see everything going to sleep for the year. My morning glories are really holding on this fall too. I am hoping for a wonderful October to enjoy the outside yet.
I don’t get why someone would move to these old patio apartments if one of the draws wasn’t the large fenced in patios. I guess to each their own.
I’ve always thought it a little sad when I see an outdoor space like the patios you describe in your complex that aren’t used, that just sit unadorned in any way. The same goes for homes that have no adornment of any kind – like a pot of mums on the steps or a wreath on the door or a few chairs for sitting out in the yard under a tree, etc. For some reason I think of it as a statement about the state of the person’s life, the one who lives inside it.
Wow, those morning glories!! Gorgeous! I’ve not had a lot of luck with them here at This Old House, for whatever the reason.
I just don’t get it. Don’t they understand that outdoor space is an extension of their home?
I love seeing your flowers and how they change each season. I have never tried some of the ones you have but plan to add them to my garden area next spring. It’s a small area and I’ve wanted to make some changes there. Planning the area will help the cold winter days in Ohio go by a little bit quicker. I’m also thinking about putting some of the climbers on the deck posts. Thanks for all the tips you give us.
I spend the winter planning, planning, planning in my head!
Your post reminds me of this pithy poem
leaf after Leaf
by: Walter Savage Landor (1775-1864)
Leaf after leaf drops off, flower after flower,
Some in the chill, some in the warmer hour:
Alike they flourish and alike they fall,
And Earth who nourisht them receives them all.
Should we, her wiser sons, be less content
To sink into her lap when life is spent?
What beautiful words! Thank you.