So Long, Farewell Garden Beauties

 The lasting effects of the first hard frost were more noticeable later in the day when things warmed up.

I now say so long, farewell to the beautiful morning glory.

Adios to the lovely nasturiums that kept this barrel full of beauty all summer.

Au revoir to the sunflowers. Ah.... their blooming heads have taken their last bow.

Sayonara dear grape leaves. Just this morning you concealed bunches and bunches of juicy grapes.

Burnt with Frost and Brilliant Sunshine

This morning it was harder to go around photohunting with the thermometer registering at 22 degrees. I wanted to capture images of frost as I crept around in my slippers and fleece jacket.

The ice crystals surrounded these small strawberries that hadn't reached maturity.

We just couldn't pick all the green tomatoes before frost hit hard. Robert Frost has captured autumn nicely in many of his poems. I love his lines about grapes in this poem.

October

O hushed October morning mild, Thy leaves have ripened to the fall; To-morrow's wind, if it be wild, Should waste them all. The crows above the forest call; To-morrow they may form and go. O hushed October morning mild, Begin the hours of this day slow, Make the day seem to us less brief. Hearts not averse to being beguiled, Beguile us in the way you know; Release one leaf at break of day; At noon release another leaf; One from our trees, one far away; Retard the sun with gentle mist; Enchant the land with amethyst. Slow, slow! For the grapes' sake, if they were all, Whose leaves already are burnt with frost, Whose clustered fruit must else be lost-- For the grapes' sake along the wall. -Robert Frost Just as I was capturing my last photos, the brilliant sunshine glowed on the trumpet vines.

What is Annie Saying Now?

We always wonder what Annie is saying when she throws her head back and "sings."

.... and what is she trying to tell us here that is so important?

The other two are not very interested. They are just glad the love seat is back in front of the stove and a warm fire is burning! Perhaps Annie just explained the meaning of life, but we couldn't quite understand.

Vines That Provide Texture and Color

There were times we actually did some planning when it came to planting our gardens. Because of the amount of pine trees and lack of color early on, we planted many vines so the color and texture would move up around the gardens.It is hard to see in this picture, but we planted a Silver Lace Vine about eight years ago so it could climb up the pine tree. This very hardy vine has now climbed about sixty feet up the hundred foot tree. There are white clusters of flowers all the way to the top. Now that is a hardy vine.
I am very pleased this fall with our Virginia Creepers. I mentioned before that usually the dryness of August takes away Virginia's leaves before she can turn a brilliant red. At dusk today I caught some shots of her leaves that are turning color as they climbed up the tree.

First Frost, Flu, and Food that Comforts

I am home again in bed with another bout of flu. Not two weeks ago I was sick, but it has come back to torment me. When I awoke this morning, not only was I sick, but was sick at heart about our first frost. It was a mild one that only did damage in small places throughout the gardens. Good-bye coleus, farewell zucchini, and it is time to wrap up the remaining tomatoes to ripen or prepare lots of fried green tomatoes.

My brother said recently when he has a sore throat Tabasco sauce is what he craves. When I have an achy flu I crave Campbell's Vegetable Beef soup, buttered saltines, and cold milk. I am guessing it is a comfort food from childhood. I just savored my last buttered saltine and spoonful of soup.I am off to bed again to try to restore my health. I also can never drink enough orange juice when sick. I will grab a glass of that before I shut out the world again under the covers. Sigh.

Sibling Assignment #108: A Story of Autumn

I gave the sibling assignment this week.
" Pick a favorite photo you have taken yourself. Post the photo and write an Abecedarian poem about the photo. You can also use a series of photos."You can learn about this form of poetry here." Silver Valley Girl's lovely litany of life can be found here and Raymond Pert's will be here soon.

A Story of Autumn

An apple tree that began it's life
By fruit that was dropped in the soil,
Core full of seeds sprouted a plant
Darn if it didn't make a tree.
Early each day we are greeted by our pal
Faithful friend during this growing year,
Glorious flowers that open at dawn
Heading to frost the good-bye will be sad for me.
In the season of autumn we always include
Jewel crown bloom in the October air
Kindred spirit chrysanthemum
Loveliest blooms you'll ever see.
Moving inside the harvest of autumn
Now can be displayed,
Often the colors of orange and yellow
Placed on a table by the afternoon light
Quiet surrounding and simple gifts
Remind us to give thanks to thee.
Staying inside Isabelle will now
Try every warm spot around the house
Under the table or on the back of this chaise,
Very smart cat that knows how to just be.
Under the rays of the setting sun
Vanishing behind the western sky,
Wash of misty light illuminates the garden
Xactly as I want to remember it tomorrow,
Yellow, deep orange and fiery red colors
Zip through the memory of an autumn day,
Lovely- don't you agree?

by inlandempiregirl October 2009