Last Day of August

Let's take one last walk in August.

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you peace.

Wordless Wednesday - Beneath Gray Skies

Last Days of August

This evening, I went hiking with our dog,

as the golden light of August lingered.

Cool rainy days have left the cedar swamp

lush and green.

The thistle are going to seed

in slow motion 

on the steep banks of the trail

 in the heart of the cedar wood.

Micah and I went "tightrope walking"

on fallen logs

in and around and over

the ferns and moss,

and the vibrant persimmon berries

 of Jack in the Pulpit.

At the western edge of the sky

the sun fell,

luminous and lovely.

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you joy.

Autumn's Prelude

As we see the leaves turning

to the soft music of Autumn's prelude,

we begin to think of bonfires and pumpkin patches,

of hayrides

and raking piles of leaves.

My dear blogging buddy, Pom Pom, and I

have challenged ourselves to begin a nature journal

on the first day of Autumn this year.

Will you join us?  This is plenty of advance notice, 

so take your time to find a lovely unlined journal,

or a simple sketchbook.  

Will you draw in colored pencil?  

Sketch in charcoal and color in with watercolor? 

 Will you snap photos to draw from in the comfort of your cozy home, 

or will you sit in a cardigan on a hillside,

 sketching dreamily,

 as the wind tugs at your hair?

I will be choosing my notebook and adding a little decoration to the cover and/or the "title page."  Will share photos of my creative endeavors here soon.  Hope to find that several friends are joining in and sharing on their blogs, when autumn arrives.  It will be here before you know it!

Enlarge this photo if you can, and look for the line of geese flying in their traditional "V."

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you joy.

Sunday Stroll - Mostly Edible Landscaping

This year we added a new kitchen garden bed to the property.

Because the bed is in a prominent location near the house,

it needed to be decorative as well as functional.

It was fun to mix interesting looking edibles,

with herbs and flowers, some edible, some not.

These artichokes are a relative of thistle 

and you can see the strong family resemblance.

Both roses and rosehips are edible,

as well as colorful and nutritious 

(especially the hips which are quite high in Vitamin C.)

Dianthus, the old fashioned favorite "pinks,

a lovely to look add, to smell, and to sprinkle in salad or desserts.

Pink Wave Petunias are decidedly NOT edible, 

but they made a pretty border for the garden

and filled this new bed in quickly.

Thai basil is a particularly beautiful cultivar of basil,

with purple stems and attractive leaves.

We put many in this garden, along with large leafed Italian basil.

Both were delicious!

Speaking of attractive leaves:

Pineapple Sage

Chickpea (aka Garbanzo Beans)

Rose leaves,

and Garden Sage

added to the pageant of green beauty.

Blue Borage flowers attracted honey bees, bumble bees

and other, less familiar, pollinators

by the dozens all summer long.

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you peace.

When you have the chance, head on over to Steve's blog, Out on the Prairie, 

to share in his stroll through Sun and Clouds.

Autumn's Approach

While we are picking blackberries, 

ripened by the summer sun,

While we are planning long lazy days at the beach,

While we are eating watermelon fresh from the garden,

and summer sweetness runs dripping 

down our sun-warmed skin,

While our attention is diverted...

Autumn is quietly creeping in.

We find her flags flying, 

beneath an August-Blue sky.

As she sings of comfort,

and the meadow grasses nod their sleepy heads.

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you a beautiful end of August.

Sunday Stroll - August Gold

Will you walk through the garden with me,

on a golden day in August?

Will you marvel with me over the thriving dill patch,

alive with tiny wild creatures?

Will you hold your breath as a large moth

emerges from the soil

along with golden Kennebec potatoes?

Will you be surprised, like me,

to find a round glowing pumpkin,

already ripe?

Pumpkin Jack (aka PJ) the garden cat, will weave between our feet,

as we walk to the chicken yard,

to find the golden rod bursting into bloom.

Can we linger for a while?

Will you stay and breathe the sweet air,

as August warms the earth?

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you peace.

If you have a few moments, please check out Steve's stroll Out on the Prairie.  

That first photo may take your breath away!