December 1: In the Backyard Neighborhood

My project to post pictures of this corner of my backyard began on January 1, 2016.  In the last 11 months, the backyard corner has come full circle.  December finds my peach tree a bit taller.  The hosta patch is ready for some rest.  My clematis vine has gone on Winter holiday.

This yard is my daily view and in all seasons it is a source of great pleasure for me.  Its changes and growth reflect the changes in my own world.  It is a daily reminder that with patience and cultivation, beautiful things may grow.

We’re headed into the dormant Winter season.  Years of gardening have shown me that even amidst the quiet of Winter, there is progress and change in the garden.  That reminder is a lesson itself.

There will be a new first of the month garden project for 2017 and it too will be a reminder of the power of the natural world in my life.  That’s happy!

In the Backyard Neighborhood: November 1

The beauty of my once-a-month photo project is that by the time it comes to a close, the last picture of the year looks a great deal like the first picture of the year.    If feels like the project has come a full circle.  Seasons are like that and for me there is power in that sense of the infinite.

Sometimes, November 1st finds many leaves already down.  But not this year.  A lot of leaves have fallen in the last month, but plenty yet remain in my backyard, especially on the peach tree.  Up close, it’s apparent that they have begun to turn.

In the next month, likely in the next few weeks, these leaves will have fallen to the ground to join the growing collection.  November is one of those months that always ends on a different note than the one which brought it in, with big changes.  This November is no exception.  I’ll be a month older; the nation will have (hopefully) elected it’s first woman president.  By the time we get to Thanksgiving, I’m hopeful that we have a lot for which to be thankful.

The peach tree will be on my list.

In the Backyard Neighborhood: October 1

I am of two minds regarding the arrival of Fall weather. On the one hand, I like  sleeping with the windows open and I enjoy a cozy sweater on a cool morning.  I’ve already started to admire the trees whose leaves have begun to change.  On the other hand, I’m not ready to pack up my flip flops.  And I am nowhere close to saying goodbye to the leafy green trees.  So the arrival of Fall feels like something of a mixed blessing.  In the backyard corner, things have begun to change.

The peach tree leafed out early this Spring but it’s looking more and more ready for a break from the obligations of growing.  

The hostas are weary and even this week’s cooler weather and rain can’t hide the tired edges of these leaves.

The rains of the last few days will help to make our Fall a pretty season.  I remind myself that each season deserves its turn in the spotlight and that Mother Nature runs this show, not me.  I’ll be sad to see the end of the green trees but the I’m looking forward crisp leaves, big pumpkins, and the mums of October.  They are  a reminder that every season gets its turn to show its beauty.

In the Backyard Neighborhood: September 1

Right on schedule, we had a rainstorm Wednesday night and this morning, the first day of September, temperatures have cooled for the hazy morning.  The backyard neighborhood is still sporting plenty of green but there’s a sense that those days are coming to a close.  The peach tree has lost a few yellowed leaves and the hosts along the garage paint the upcoming scene in this corner of the yard.

I’m not really ready to embrace the new season.  Transitions have never been my strong suit.  I suppose some cooler temperatures will mellow my attitude.  But right now, September just feels like busy early mornings, long days at school, and grown-up clothes.  Once I settle into the swing of things, I’ll embrace the new season and laugh off my earlier resistance.  That’s how it always is for me.  So for now, I’ll ride the wave confident that the outcome will be pleasing.

August 1: In the Backyard Neighborhood

Usually, August finds the backyard starting to look a little parched.  This year, the July rains have come often enough to cope with the heat, and so the plants in this corner of the yard have held on quite nicely.

There were no peaches on my tree this year.  Nearly a dozen set on but one night in June some critters (possums, I suspect), made quick work of my prospects.

Some years, that’s the case.  I try to be patient with such developments.  After all, there’s always next year and there is still plenty to enjoy in this corner of my garden world.

July 1: In the Backyard Neighborhood

We’ve settled in to the fullness of summer and the backyard corner is in full bloom.

The clematis is past prime but the hostas are preparing to bloom and the peach tree is fully leafed out.  This year’s small peach crop was gobbled up by the local wildlife.  I’ve learned to be sanguine about such developments.  After all, I can't stop them without being cruel and we all must share in nature’s abundance.

We’ve had patches of dry weather in the last six weeks and are in danger of a localized drought.  I run the sprinkler on my vegetable garden but typically leave the rest of the garden and yard to fend for itself.  We had an inch of rain earlier this week; more is forecast for this afternoon and I hope that will help to ease the dry lawn.  

Whether it’s via rain or my sprinkler, I expect July will bring even more growth to the garden and the backyard, a lovely development to behold. 

In the Backyard Neighborhood: June 1

Twilight in my backyard is the most magical of hours.  The light is nearly luminous and the yard looks its most lovely.  Whether it’s sitting on the back deck or standing in the window to spy a bunny outside in the grass, I never tire of this view.  

The heat of summer hasn’t yet settled in to stay; the new green leaves and plants are green and lush.  The peach tree, now in it’s third summer, looks to have a few peaches for us to enjoy later this summer.  The clematis is abundant with purple flowers.

The hostas are at there most lovely.

I love the summer season in my backyard, a place that never fails to charm me and soothe my soul.  I’m looking forward to hours spent out here in the coming summer, with a glass of iced tea and a good book by my side, watching the flowers grow.

In the Backyard Neighborhood: May 1

May is the last full month of school and it is invariably hectic and busy, with less and less time for me to complete a forever growing to-do list.  But it is beautiful now that Spring has finally taken hold and in that beauty is the opportunity to take a deep breathe and live in the moment.

This year I am determined to pause in the busy days to enjoy the freshly bloomed plants and trees that surround me.  I can see this sight every morning and it is so lovely to behold.

Taking the time to enjoy it is a reminder that summer’s slow days, relaxed pace, and fresh peaches are just around the corner.

That’s happy!

In the Backyard Neighborhood: April 1

We are headed into the most glorious part of Spring, when there are new flowers emerging from the soil nearly every day as the buds on trees open with a bright flourish and the leaves and grass green right up as we watch.  But first, you have to look closely to find Spring's achievements.

This development is a little earlier than usual, thanks to a mild Winter and some early Spring warmth and rain.  There are still some chilly days to come, of course, but I have my toes in the air and I’m ready for the seasonal change. I can hear the birds chirping outside each the morning and the sound is glorious; as if they are chirping a chorus to cheer on the blooming flowers and help us celebrate the lengthening daylight hours.

Spring is always a heady season for me; a reminder that Mother Nature is a powerful force in my world.  There is beauty and hope in the blooms and warm air; the light on these days feels as if it is glowing with possibility.

In the Backyard Neighborhood: March 1

Though Spring’s official start is still a few weeks away, the backyard is already turning its mind to the next season.  The tips of these daffodil and tulip bulbs peeking through the soil show the way.

The hostas in this flowerbed will take longer but throughout March, I’ll be on the lookout for progress in this corner of the yard.  The start of Spring is tantalizing in this way and I love the sense of expectation that fills the lengthening days.

A larger view of the backyard reveals that there is quite a bit of Spring cleanup to complete.  Those chores are reserved for the first warm day of Spring Break and I am looking forward to them.

March is an expectant month, with green and blooms slowly making their way to the forefront.  That’s happy!

In the Backyard Neighborhood: February 1

On the first day of the year, the backyard was experiencing a mild day, one in keeping with our rather temperate Winter.  Last weekend’s massive snowfall changed that up quite a bit, with nearly three feet of snow on this corner.  Just a week later, there’s been plenty of melting, thanks to some sunny days and the return of Winter mildness.  Yesterday, the sun shone and the temperature rose to nearly 60 degrees.  It’s not often that I drive with the window cracked when there is snow on the ground, but that seems to be the kind of Winter we are having.

Piles of white snow can be deceiving so it's hard to know how much of the icy white crystals remain. But it was more than I wished to brave, so all the pictures were made from the back deck.

Even when it’s cold and snowy, I find February to be a lovely month.  Sixteen years ago, a sweet baby was born to me in February.  Its 28 days feel that much closer to the arrival of Spring.  Even this year, with an extra day of Winter, there is a tantalizing sense of seasonal change just around the corner.  This corner of the yard is drinking in the snow, getting ready for some Spring blooms.

That’s happy!

In the Backyard Neighborhood: January 1, 2016

For some time now, I’ve made a tradition of marking the passing of the seasons by making a picture of something in my garden and reflecting on the changes it experiences.  When I look closely, month by month, subtle differences begin to emerge and, before I know it, Winter gives way to Spring.  Summer and Fall emerge in turn.  A year flies by and, as it does, I’ve had the chance to appreciate the seasons.

These monthly snapshots are my reminder to appreciate the beauty of each season.  They are also a chance for me to particularly admire a part of my garden, from which I derive great pleasure.  In 2015, I made a picture of my peach tree at the start of each month.  In previous years, I’ve had a monthly look at the line of hostas against the garage and the clematis vine along the fence.  These three items live in the same neighborhood of my yard and in 2016 I plan to mark their collective changes month-by-month.

The hostas, which I love, were here when I moved in.  The peach tree and the clematis vine were my additions, in 2013 and 2010, respectively.    The bird house, which isn’t a growing thing, but is very much a part of this corner of the yard, was a Christmas gift from T two years ago.  This part of the yard can be seen when I come downstairs each morning and I love the seasonal charms it affords.  I look forward to sharing this view at the start of each month in 2016.

With Winter’s arrival, the corner is quiet, despite our unseasonably warm December.  We’ve had plenty of frost but the ground is still well-above freezing and I’ve had the chance to plant a few more bulbs that I’ll enjoy come Spring.  There is time for me to rake more of these wet leaves into the garden patch, but the yard is so wet now that the chore must wait for some dryness.   We still await our first snow. 

Perhaps it will have arrived by February 1st, when I'll check in again with a glimpse of the backyard corner.