Sunday, October 11, 2009

Sunday Stroll - Changing Skies

With heavy clouds above my me and lush green grass beneath my feet, I walked through my garden this afternoon. Tiny hard pellets of snow had fallen just a minutes earlier. You can see them on the porch in the photo below, and falling in streaks of white near the pond in the photo after that.



This cosmos, the tallest in the patch, towers above my head. There are still many unopened blossoms. I hope that those blooms, and the little white hollyhock in the next photo, have time to unfurl before cold weather stops the long slow parade of blooms that I have been enjoying since early spring.





For now, the trend in the garden is toward yellow, silver, pale apricot, and more and more bare patches of earth. Here are some glimpses of the garden trail, starting at the south trail-head and leaving at the north-west end in the newer section of the garden where the cosmos are blooming.

There are a lot of brown leaves and dying vines in the vegetable, and very few actual vegetables remaining. There are still a few cantalopes and acorn squash amid the orange and green pumpkins. I hope those dead-looking vines still nourish our pumpkins until they are fully ripe... maybe just in time for Halloween.


As is so often the case in October, the skies have changed every few moments today. The frenzy of snowflakes was followed by mellow sparkling sunshine for a while. Later, a chorus of clouds and frosty air ran through the hills singing softly of shorter days and longer nights. At their urging, I made a warm, filling dinner of corn chowder and dill biscuits. The sun is shining again, just in time to set beautifully into the little lake down the hill. Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you warmth and happiness.


all photos by Aisling, 10/11/2009

7 comments:

Jessica said...

Oh, I wish I had found your blog & the Sunday Stroll earlier in the summer. Many weekends it seemed as if my so-called homeschooling blog was overtaken by posts detailing strolls around my own backyard.

I'm strolling a little less now as I've been diagnosed with breast cancer...but, if I remember I will be happy to take part in your Sunday Stroll. :)

Marcie said...

Jessica,

I'm glad you found us now. We stroll all through the year whatever the weather, so please join us if you are able.

I was a homeschooling mom myself for 8 years, so I know I will enjoy peeking in on your blog and getting to know you. I wish you strength and resiliance as you fight against breast cancer.

Thank you for taking the time to let me know you visited.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

I love visiting you - feel so at home.

Cloudhands said...

Ooow, 'hard rain'. Wonderful capture of the hail coming down. I love the twisty path that winds through the garden since I love to ramble and wander aimlessly. It must come from being retired and no longer requiring structure.

Marcie said...

Ernestine,

I'm so glad you came by and that it feels like home. I need to come by and catch up with you soon!

Mom,
It is kind of a twisty turny trail, isn't it? It lets me enjoy my garden, up close and personal, from many vantage points! G'night!

Anonymous said...

I love the sweet pathways through your garden... and your descriptions of October skies. I love the fierce changes October brings, and the way the cold strips the garden down to its bones. The seed pods and bare vines are beautiful to me.
I really enjoy your strolls, as well as the other strollers linked here. This is a fun feature. Thank you for hosting it.

Marcie said...

Christiane,

Thank you for such a nice comment. I agree with you about the "fierce changes" of October. I really enjoy the connection with other like minded gardeners and/or nature lovers through the Sunday strolls, and I'm so glad you're a part of it!