September is still Summer for us. Summer it is! Autumn doesn't officially come until September 23rd. Even then, we will still have warm days into October. We are seeing subtle signs of the changes about to begin. Even though we've had 90 degree days and humidity that makes my hair grow when we take our morning walk, we see the changes happening. The lamp in the living room is turned on earlier. The sun comes through the bay window at a different angle.
The leaves on the big oak tree out front is suffering from lack of rain. The trees are dropping their leaves to save water. Grayden and Samuel have already mowed and bagged leaves for compost. It's quite early for that and even though it hasn't been a week it needs to be done again. The black gum always drops its leaves now, but not the oak. We don't water our lawn so of course it is brown. The plants in pots are now getting daily watering as I can't bear to loose them so early.
Do you get the Sphinx Moth visiting your flowers? They look like a small hummingbird and are so industrious!
The morning glories are just beginning to bloom on the trellis.
The dry weather doesn't keep the fall crocus from blooming.
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| Fairy Blankets |
September’s Baccalaureate
A combination is
Of Crickets—Crows—and Retrospects
And a dissembling Breeze
That hints without assuming—
An Innuendo sear
That makes the Heart put up its Fun
And turn Philosopher.
Emily Dickinson
Yes! The sun is lowering daily now, and evening lamps are lit a little earlier each night. I do so love the first photograph with the warm, golden tones so evocative of this time of year. We are heading in to our first chain of low pressure systems, quite a bit earlier than usual, but they never really eased up a the end of Winter this year.
ReplyDeleteI must look up your Sphinx moth, for we have a very similar looking one that we call the Hummingbird Hawk moth, which often creates havoc as people think they have a hummingbird in their borders.
I am sure I will be bagging more leaves soon too! ~~~Deb
Deb, now I have to look up your Hummingbird Hawk moth! I do love the approaching Autumn as it is my favorite time of year. The changing seasons always excite me as I'm a gal who likes changes. After a hot humid summer I look forward to cooler temps and hopefully some rain. Hopefully your low pressure system keeps your garden hydrated. ♥
DeleteI looked them up and they are from the same family of moths. A couple other names too! Of course, the hawk moth is a poor substitute for the real thing but they do look quite convincing, don't they?
Deleteyes, the garden will now be putting on an extra spurt ~ just when the blades of the mower "should" be being raised for the last few cuts of the year!
Yes, they look very much alike from the pictures I saw. They are quite interesting creatures. I remember the first time I saw one I had to immediately look it up-(before the virtual library) --it was in a bird book of all things as folks thought they were a type of hummer. Enjoy your afternoon and weekend, Deb! ♥
DeleteMartha Ellen, your flowers made me smile today. You take the loveliest pictures of flowers. It is still hot here too during September, but supposed to be cooler next week. And I feel a breeze in the mornings telling me Autumn is on its way. I am wondering what state you are from, as we also need water here in California. I just went to the lake last week, and it was so low. Your sunrise is beautiful.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
Thank you, Sheri. I live in Virginia and feel bad complaining about lack of rain to a Californian! I know you have been in a drought for some time. We have thunderstorms all around us, but none have bought us the much needed rain. I bet you could teach me a thing or two about conservation of precious water. ♥
DeleteMy goodness, Martha Ellen. It is stinking hot here too! I am officially ready for autumn!
ReplyDeleteYes, there are signs, thankfully. I have noticed the shortening of the days, there are orange berries on my baby pyracantha bush, and leaves are falling from our locust trees. Any day now...
Cheryl, I hope you are feeling the cooler temps this morning. There were showers all around us again last night, but very little rain. Hopefully you have had rain at your place.
DeleteYour pyracantha is ready for fall and so am I. ♥
Still so much summer color in your garden, Martha Ellen! Your Hibiscus is lovely! It's sad to hear that some leaves have already begun to fall. I love your phrase 'fairy blankets.' It sounds ever so much nicer! We are seeing lots of fairy blankets here, too. After a heatwave in Chicagoland last week, we are nice and cool this week. I was so delighted to wear a denim jacket today! :) We have had several inches of rain this week. By next week, our warm summer weather will return. Wishing you gentle rains and cool breezes, my friend! ♡Dawn@Petals.Paper.SimpleThymes
ReplyDeleteDawn, with watering, my flowers are still surviving. Rain is just not coming to my garden now. Fairy blankets is not my original phrase ---I can't remember who I heard say it first--but they are everywhere this time of year on most of the cedars and junipers.
DeleteWe are enjoying cooler temps this morning and the screen doors are open--Fresh air is welcome after keeping the house closed up! Enjoy your prelude to Fall, Dawn! ♥
The last picture says a lot! It is definitely spider season around our house! Your photos are beautiful. It is getting cooler here this weekend and we will enjoy the change! I think about this time of year we reach our limit of heat and humidity! Have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteDotsie, the spiders are certainly busy this time of year. We have webs everywhere and I sometimes forget to watch out for them and walk through them--Yikes! This morning cooler temps made their way to us and it feels so good! Enjoy the cooler times this weekend. ♥
DeleteI saw an Egyptian Moth in my garden a few weeks ago but haven´t seen it since. We´re in VT and have been away for 4 days so I don´t know what state my garden is in, but I know we got rain according to my neighbor.
ReplyDeleteI had to look up Egyptian moth, Cathy. I don't think I've seen one here. Enjoy your time in VT. I hope you share when you return. Still no rain for us--glad to hear you received some. ♥
DeleteI love September. the last bits of bright color , and that fresh scent in the air. Already, fallen leaves are beginning to mulch my garden.
ReplyDeleteWe have raked three times already--that's quite early for us! ♥
DeleteIt is still very hot and humid here but the quality of light changes daily and we know that it is autumn. I can't wait for a cooler weather.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
I'm with you, Amalia. It has been much cooler this week and I'm enjoying it so much. Sending cooler weather to you! xo ♥
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