Fall in Sight

The backyard dogwood tree is rather a harbinger of things to come.  It’s my first sight of Spring in April and come September, its leaves begin to turn ever-so-slightly.  I enjoy a daily check of the changes at hand.  This was the tree three weeks ago.   

Last week, a few more leaves had begin to turn.  

Yesterday, color was coming to all of the leaves on the side of the tree that faces West.  

This tree barely reached the roofline of the first floor when I moved here in 2005.  These days, it’s rather larger than that, though still very much in the shadow of Old Man Tree, and always a treat when I spy its branches.

Old Man Tree; January 1

There was a nearly full moon in the night sky for New Year’s Eve.  Late in the night, we stepped outside in the still cold air to admire the moon and, in my case, to ask for its blessing on the new year to come.  Things didn’t stay quiet for long as my neighbors let off fireworks and generally gave release to the tensions and fears of 2020, welcoming 2021 with cheers and laughter.  The celebrations were joyous as we all faced forward to 2021.

I welcome this year with open arms and hope, even a tentative confidence, that we can rise above the ignorance and fears that have characterized the last four years.  We need to do better; indeed we must.  The load to be lifted is heavy but I have confidence that we will come together and try anew to be the shining city on the hill that we must work toward becoming.  

In the spirit of this hope and to welcome the start of each month in 2021, I will post pictures of Old Man Tree, the giant red oak that lives in my backyard and daily frames my view of the world outside my door.  Today he presides over the snacks we’ve left out for the backyard wildlife.

I love this tree, which is one of the oldest red oaks in my county.  The arborist who keeps Old Man Tree healthy and well believes that the tree is more than 130 years old.  He’s seen a lot, this tree, and he endures, steadfast and strong through the storms of this world.  His continued health is my responsibility.  I take that seriously.  

He got a new face last month and like all of us in Sassafras House looks for a new year with hope.  There is much to be learned from this tree that bears witness to our lives.  I intend to do just that in the coming year.  

Monday Garden Update: August 17

At this point in the Summer, the garden is in more shade than it should be.  Before next year, I'll need to trim the mulberry tree that sits in the southeast corner of my lawn to bring in more sunlight.  But I’m still collecting a zinnia and jalapeño or two every few days.  There are some tomatoes set on and I’m hoping to harvest them before the 2020 garden season closes out.  

Monday Garden Update: August 3

I’m fighting a bit of a battle with the backyard wildlife when it comes to harvesting my tomatoes, which the squirrels like to snack on nearly as much as we do.  I am able to harvest some of them and I am fond of the squirrels so I long ago made peace with the wildlife dining element of gardening in my yard.

There is a purple zinnia to admire (and more blooms are on the way).

There are some jalapeños coming along nicely.

More tomato blooms are set on.

My daily stroll out here reminds me of the value of patience, a reminder that I need always but especially in this year of all years.

Hydrangea Blooms!

There is a splendid hydrangea bush next to the gate in my backyard and I enjoy watching the leaves emerge each Spring.  Most years, I don’t get flowers.  I’ve read about pruning and fertilization until I am nearly blind and I remain rather confused about what it means to trim the old growth (or even whether my hydrangea is the sort that expects its old growth to be trimmed in order to bloom.)  Thus it is that blooms are rare on this hydrangea.

But when they do emerge, they are unfailingly splendid.  

A gardening friend reports to me that it’s a good year for hydrangeas and perhaps that explains my blooms.  That’s better explanation than my confused pruning efforts and offers hope for lovely blooms come next Summer.

My Back Deck Desk

I am immersed in prepping my Civics and Citizenship class and rather than sit at my desk, I’ve taken operations outside whenever possible.  So it was that Sunday found me working on the back deck  in the afternoon, after spending much of my morning on the front porch.

Staycation is the name of the game this Summer and while I will miss the adventure of seeing someplace new, I am grateful for the blessings of this back deck, where I can enjoy the sunshine and the shade and even fit in a bit of a nap.

Golden Hour Days

The last hour of sunlight in late June and July is splendid on clear days and for a few minutes before the dusk truly settles around us, the whole of Sassafras House is aglow with light so magical that even calling it the Golden Hour doesn’t sum up how lovely it is.

Saturday evening the light was especially nice and I popped outside to make some pictures.

I find such joy in moments like this; a pleasure that infuses my heart for longer than the moment itself lasts.  

Summer, with its verdant plants and blooms, with its ease and warm blue skies, seems an especially nice time to pause and enjoy the Golden Hour.

Peach Trees & Blue Skies

My backyard never fails to bring me happiness.  It’s green and overgrown and just the way I like it.  

Some days, it’s nice to pause and admire the beauty that surrounds me, all here for the taking even when the world seems to be spinning out of my control.

These peaches are growing bigger by the day.  Though I fear that most will serve as squirrel snacks, I am hopeful that at least a few can be served at my supper table.  Each day moves us a little closer to that prospect.

Monday Garden Update - June 22

What a difference two weeks makes; especially two weeks of warm weather.  There are tomato blooms aplenty and on a few plants, actual tomatoes!

It was hard to make a picture but there are jalapeños just set on.  The basil is starting to look happy, and the zinnia seedlings are strong.

An afternoon of weeding is clearly in order but things are looking most splendid here in my garden.

That’s happy!

Under Old Man Tree

Now that old man tree has leafed up, much of the day finds the back deck under a canopy of shade.

I can spend hours out here with my books, sitting in the shade next to the flower pots that soak in the back deck sunlight.  The pots of impatiens look like they have a cap of flowers

These bright flowers are lovely and I plant pot after pot of them, always thinking it wouldn't hurt to have a few more.

The pink begonias - which seemed to attract the squirrels - are hearty and cheerful.  

These companions brighten the day and remind me to be glad of my blessings, both great and small.  

Mother Nature Marches On: Your Weekly Dogwood Report

This past weekend featured sunlight and warmth, a combination that all of the garden enjoyed.  The dogwood is beginning to leaf out, though plenty of flowers remain high above, a very welcome sight when I’m on the back deck.

As much as possible, I come out here for breaks during the work day.  This morning, there was sunlight and I made a few pictures.

This afternoon, there is a cold rain but Spring is on the march and I am grateful.

Peach Blossoms and Sunshine

Though it’s stormy today, much of the last few weeks has brought enough sunshine and warmth to get my backyard peach tree blooming.  Every year is the same.  The peach tree gets a lot of sunlight and moves toward blooms sooner than most of the plants in the yard.  Even so, things start off slow.

Then one morning I look outside and there are pink flowers on all the branches.  This tree, and its showy pink flowers, are one of the nicest parts of early Spring.

Seen against the vibrant blue sky, the pink is simply splendid, some of Mother Nature’s nicest work.  That’s happy!

December 1: Fairy Garden

Earlier this morning, a sleety rain was falling when I walked out back to make a picture of the empty fairy garden patch.  In the hour since then, the sleet has turned to tiny flakes of snow. and ice  The damp cold will be with us for the next few days, along with a Winter storm that sent JT back up north back a day early so as to beat the snow that will also arrive in his corner of New England.

Winter is here.

The fairies packed up a month ago so they’ve no fear of the cold, resting on the warm shelves of the basement.  The days are growing rapidly shorter now and the tree branches in the backyard are bare for the coming season.

We’ll probably rake up a few more bags of leaves before Winter settles in for good.  We’ll fill the bird feeder in earnest now, aware that our fellow creatures are in need of nourishment.  The Winter season is that way for me, filled with days that call for an extra blanket and a warm mug of tea, a reminder to slow down and nourish my soul with good books, garden catalogs, twinkling lights in the fade of the day, and time for rest.

November 1: Fairy Garden

Last weekend, the fairies packed up for the season.  They head south for the Winter, though in their case it’s the milder weather of the basement where they can rest safely during the cold season.   Leaves will fill this patch until they are raked up and the colder weather and snow eventually arrive.  Over the Winter, I’ll do some prep work in the fairy town and likely talk my way into some new fairy accessories, as is my way.

The bird feeder is filled to keep the birds happy in the coming cold weather.  Truth is that the squirrels will also have a try at scoring a treat but we’ve laid in plenty of bird seed, so there is enough for everyone.  Each season of the year has something to offer and this patch of the garden always reminds me of the wisdom of Mother Nature’s plan.

Sunrise View

In the Summer, the tall trees filled with green leaves makes for a seemingly secluded backyard.  I can see the sunrise from the back deck but it seems to rise from the trees, not the horizon.

Come mid-October, as the leaves begin to fall from the trees, the horizon comes into view.  My sunrise watching seems more expansive and on clear days I enjoy a cup of coffee on the back deck, wrapping a sweater around me as I watch the dawn light fill the sky as the sun creeps over the horizon.  As we near the time change, sunrise is rather late in the morning and the inky darkness doesn’t start to ease until just after 7 am.  The view to the East is opening up and I’m looking forward to the Winter sunrises in the coming months.

Dogwood in Fall

The dogwood tree in the backyard  is now completely red.  T and I did some yard work yesterday and I made these pictures so I’d be able to remember this beauty through the coming Winter.

For a few days, the sight of red-leafed limbs will greet me in the morning.  Then, a windy day will come along and the leaves will fall.  That day will leave behind bare limbs that are also beautiful to see.  

I find beauty in every season but I’ll miss these leaves and their shady presence in my backyard view.

September 1: Fairy Garden

The weeds along the line of the fairy garden fence never lost their access to abundant rain this summer and they’ve rather taken over.  There’s green everywhere in the yard; enough that it’s hard to believe Fall and September are at hand.

And yet, here we are.  There’ve been enough cool mornings to get the dogwood tree to think of the coming season.

The same is true for the peach tree.

Though the hostas don’t look bedraggled by the heat as they usually appear in August, they do look a bit tired.

Summer flew by and I can’t quite believe that Fall is at hand.  I’m never ready to say goodbye to flip flops; this year is no exception.  But tomorrow is Labor Day and Tuesday is the first day of school and just like that, I’m wearing shoes again and we’re off and running.  By this time next month, the fairies and I will be planning for their slumber season.  I’ve already stacked up some garden bulb catalogs to enjoy as a treat this back-to-school week and as September closes out, I will have ordered some bulbs for next Spring.  At least a few will be planted in this fairy patch.  Gardening always rewards advance planning and I like that.  

I especially love the seasons as they are changing and nothing is more lovely than the cooler mornings that signal Fall on the horizon.  The fairies and I are ready for the change.

August 1: Fairy Garden

Keeping up with the weeds has been a bit of challenge in the fairy garden in this past month but even with the abundance of Virginia creeper, this patch of the garden always charms me.

The peach crop was harvested by the squirrels (I didn’t get even one) and the clematis is past its prime, but things remain green and lovely in both the sunlight and the shade.  

I love this yard in all times of the year, but especially the summer.  August’s arrival has me facing the hard fact that summer won’t last forever.  In a few months, the fairies will pack up for the cold weather.  But while they are here, they will make me smile.

Garden Season

Summer has officially begun and right on schedule, tomatoes are blooming in my garden.  

The zinnia seedlings are coming along nicely.

The front yard hosta bed is lush and green, with blooms sustained by all the rain we’ve had this month.  

I can spy this garden from the front porch where I sit and sip my morning coffee and it always makes me smile.

The peach tree has served as a a handy squirrel snack bar but plenty of peaches remain on its limbs, ripening for later this summer.

At twilight, the lightening bugs in the backyard twinkle on and off against the green.  No matter how long I look at them, their glow always seems magical.  There is beauty in abundance as June prepares to slip into July and I am happy to soak it all up.