Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Garden Muse Day: October

Early morning sun rises over the soybean fields.

"Crispy air and azure skies,
High above, a white cloud flies,
Bright as newly fallen snow.
Oh the joy to those who know October!

Colors bright on bush and tree.
Over the weedy swamp, we see

A veil of purple and brown and gold.

Thy beauty words have never told. October!

Scolding sparrows on the lawn,
Rabbits frisking home at dawn,
Pheasants midst the sheaves of grain,
All in harmony acclaim, October!

Brown earth freshly turned by plow,
Apples shine on bended bough,
Bins o'erflowed with oats and wheat,
And satisfaction reigns complete. October!

Radiant joy is everywhere.
Spirits in tune to the spicy air,

Thrill in the glory of each day.
Life's worth living when we say, October!"

- Joseph Pullman Porter

The calendar may have said that fall arrived last week, but October marks the true beginning of fall for me. The temperatures have dropped twenty degrees with nights cool enough for jackets and crisp, sunny days. A few leaves at the very top of the maple trees are beginning to turn, and sadly, I think the hummingbirds have left for warmer climes. The surest sign of fall in this area, though, is the gold and brown in the corn and bean fields, signalling the onset of harvest time. The harvest is late this year because of the spring rains that delayed planting until June. But, barring an early frost, farmers should have a better yield than expected. (At least they won't be asking Washington for a $700 billion bailout!)

Mums brighten up corners where daisies and coneflowers once bloomed.



But the best part of October for me this year is that my beloved Cubbies are still playing! They begin the National League playoffs early this evening in a game with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Chicagoland must be buzzing right now as their South Side counterparts, the White Sox are also in the playoffs. Better stock up on firewood and make sure you have a warm winter coat--as Mr. McGregor's Daughter has said, if both Chicago teams make it to the World Series, hell may freeze over! Let's hope both teams--but especially the Cubs--are still playing at the end of October!

Garden Muse Day is sponsored the first day of each month by
Carolyn Gail at Sweet Home and Garden Chicago. Visit her for more poetry on the wonderful fall month of October.

28 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous photo, and the poem you chose illustrates it perfectly! Nice choice.

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  2. Rose, what a delightful post...the photo and poem are a perfect duo. Love the hell freezing over comment...I am going to have to take a look at the sports pages and see what all this fuss is about;-) I do like the Cubs, even if I am supposed to be a Cardinal fan!

    Gail

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  3. How about those Cubs?! What a great day in Chicago for both teams.

    Thanks for the lovely poem for Muse Day.

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  4. A great poem choice, I agree with it's sentiment as October is one of my favorite months if not my favorite. I haven't be following the baseball this year but now that it's playoff time I will root for those Cubbies, they have to win sometime, don't they?

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  5. Nancy, Thanks so much! I am a little irritated with Blogger, though, because it took out all the spaces between stanzas. I may have to check out Wordpress one of these days.

    Gail, Welcome back! I do root for the Cardinals when they make it to the World Series. I hope Cardinal fans can find it in their hearts to root for us this year--they've had many more opportunities than the Cubs!

    Carolyn Gail, I am so excited about the Cubs, but there's still a long way to go...
    Thanks for sponsoring Muse Day each month; I really enjoy it.

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  6. Cindy, October can be a beautiful month; I can't wait to see the fall show of colored leaves. Yes, it's the Cubbies' turn to win, for sure!

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  7. What a delightful tribute to October, and a good way to get a plug in for your team!

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  8. I love the photograph Rose....so soft....the colours are beautiful...

    The poem is a wonderful choice.....it really does tell the story of October.....a very beautiful month of the year......

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  9. Wonderful sunrise! I love October. I always wait for the smell of fall, and I know that's when it's "officially" here. I wish I could bottle that smell!

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  10. I love the picture, Rose! We should have a contest to see who can get the best "flat field" shot. The way the light catches it makes all the difference in the world.

    It must be crazy in Chicago right now.

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  11. What a pretty picture Rose !
    I love October .. but we have had rain for quite a few days now, so I am getting a bit edgy waiting to get out and start taking pictures of the leaves turning .. the best shots are dark bark with gold and red leaves .. I can't wait !
    I'm not a sports fan but hope you have your team win big time !
    Joy

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  12. Rose, what a nice poem. I've read three today I really like.

    Looking out the window, everything is still green, but there is a real nip in the air.
    Marnie

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  13. The mums are so pretty. Those darn White Sox took it to my Twins last night - we are so bummed around here! Well, good luck to the Cubbies - that would be one heckuva World Series if both Chicago teams made it!

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  14. Lovely poem and sky Rose. October is a beautiful month but for me it brings the winter so is not to be celebrated too much! Roll on the spring! Husband says it's only 84 days to Christmas, oh no!!
    Is that one of your April fool bunnies in the mums pic?!
    I left you an e-mail last week, not sure if you recieved it :)
    Thanks for visiting me.

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  15. Rose, what a beautiful morning! I remember that you're a baseball fan. I do love autumn too. Enjoy!

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  16. Love the poem and photos, Rose. Maybe baseball can save our planet from the certain death that's been predicted and everyone seemed so worried about (at least until the financial crisis took hold)! There is a certain mystical quality about the game. Remember Costner's and Redford's movies about it?

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  17. Oooh, I love Walk2write's comment about the magic of baseball saving civilization! Many congrats on your beloved team and the other Chicago team as well. When was the last time that happened, if ever?

    Frances

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  18. Oh Rose, this may be my new favorite poem for October. So many of these lines speak to me. The colors of the sky, the crispy air. Just wonderful.

    I will be rooting for the Cubbies too. I almost hope for the two Chicago teams to be playing. It would be a record for sure.

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  19. Crisp air....ahhhhh. Great photos and poem. It's a lovely time of year!

    A baseball fan, ey? I love baseball, especially when I need a nap.

    Mary

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  20. That's a beautiful photo and poem you chose for GBMD. :)

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  21. Rose, as I was reading your poem, I thought Robert Frost. Sounds a lot like him. Your sunrise over the bean field is really a great shot and does look so October! Have you seen what they are saying(bloggers) about Illinois flatland and corn and bean fields!! :)Thanks for the coffee today and another tour of your lovely garden. Looking forward to more PLANT SHOPPING tomorrow.

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  22. Hi Rose, and thanks for stopping by my blog recently. I'm with you regarding fall's "true" arrival in October. Just the sound of the name of this month seems to conjure up a chilly change in seasons. And that's okay.

    I also enjoy this time of year because I get to steal Halloween candy from my kids. ;~)

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  23. Thanks, Tina. I am a big sports fan, so I'm pretty excited.

    Cheryl, I do love October, too. During my teaching days I was usually too busy to really enjoy it, but now I have much more time to appreciate the beautiful days.

    Brenda Jean, You're so right--the smell is what tells me it's fall! Thanks for stopping by!

    Joyce, Thanks; I was just lucky that photo turned out. There are certainly many opportunities around here for a contest:)

    Joy, We haven't had much rain in weeks--can you send some our way? I do know how you love October:)

    Marnie, Yes, everything is still pretty much green around here, but the cooler temps make it feel so much more like fall.

    Beth, Sorry about the Twins. The Cubs lost last night, boo hoo.

    Suburbia, I do enjoy October, but I'm not looking forward to winter either. A few cold days and a nice snowfall, and then I'm ready for spring! But unfortunately it doesn't work that way around here. You remember the April Fool bunnies, LOL! No, that was a new purchase I made about a month ago. Not sure where he's going to stay yet.

    Sarah, Thanks! I still have much to do in the garden, which is why I haven't been blogging as much lately.

    W2W, I loved "A Field of Dreams," especially. The Cubs are going to have to start winning tonight if they're going to save the planet, though:)

    Frances, I'm still trying to imagine how they might save civilization:) The Cubs haven't won the Series in 100 years, which may be how long it's been since they met up with the White Sox in it. I wouldn't place any big bets on this happening, though:)

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  24. Lisa, Glad you liked the poem; I thought it described the images of October very well. I may have jinxed the Cubs; they lost last night(:

    Mary, thanks! I find the NFL games my husband watches all day Sundays are much more conducive to a nap:)

    PG, Thanks! Maybe next year I'll have a sweet autumn clematis to show:)

    Beckie, Well, we don't have "purple mountains' majesties," but we do have the "amber waves of grain." We have to enjoy what's given to us:) I must get off here and start getting ready for our day out!

    TC, Thanks for stopping by! I find I can't buy Halloween candy too early, or it mysteriously disappears before the end of October:)

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  25. Good one, Rose - more nostalgic for me than 'in the moment' since October is seldom crisp here in Austin and not one bit gold, either! Right now no sparrows are scolding - we've got Blue Jays screaming their heads off.

    Friends and family members in the Chicago area wear both Sox hats and Cub hats but we bought Cub hats for our kids and I liked to listened to the games on WGN when I lived in IL. My Aunt is 98 and still hoping she'll see her Cubbies go all the way.
    Should I hope both Sox and Cubs win pennants? Will that unjinx you? Would an All-Chicago Series be just too much?

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  26. I really like that poem because I love October. It's the prettiest month of the year around here. I'm not stocking up on firewood, I remember the Cubs being swept in the playoffs by the Padres. Didn't they get swept by the Dodgers too? I gave up on them after they dashed my hopes in '84. It was just too painful. I hope you're not setting yourself up for a huge let down. Don't forget about the Goat Curse. Thanks for the shout out!

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  27. A lovely photo Rose and a new poem and poet for me to discover :) Happy Muse Day!

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  28. Annie, I hope your aunt has her wish fulfilled, but things are not looking good right now for either the Cubs or the Sox.

    MMD,I do like October,too; I'm looking forward to seeing the leaves turn. I probably did jinx the Cubs: things are looking pretty dismal today.

    VP, Thanks and a happy Muse Day to you, too!

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