Thursday, October 7, 2010

Three for Thursday: Signs of Autumn

The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry's cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.

 
The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I'll put a trinket on.

-   Emily Dickinson,  Nature 27 - Autumn

I may have missed Garden Muse Day last week, but I certainly have been welcoming the arrival of October. After a consistently hot summer that lasted well into the end of September, October has been a welcome relief with cool nights that turn into pleasantly warm, sun-filled days.  I can finally believe that autumn is here to stay.  Sure signs of autumn's arrival:




A softer sun . . . Unlike the summer sun that seemed to penetrate every pore of my body as I tried to work out in the garden, the October sun provides a comforting warmth.  Morning, afternoon, or evening--I can work outside anytime I please!


The fading garden . . . While some blooms remain, much of the garden is already turning to seed, preparing for its winter sleep.  Even as some goldenrod waves its yellow stems in the autumn breeze, the early goldenrod has turned to a brown fluff.


A few late Susans still show their cheery faces . . .


 . . . but most have turned to seedheads, bobbing amidst the asters.


Only the skeleton of Joe Pye remains.



Colors of Fall . . . The leaves are just beginning to turn.  This morning I noticed the very tip-top of my maple has a few orange leaves, but a few trees in town have already put on their autumn finery.



The pink and red flowering crabs are not very attractive this time of year and have already lost most of their leaves which turned a dull brown before falling.  But the white flowering crabapple is full of ripe red berries,  favorite treats of the birds in the winter to come.


Red berries against a clear blue sky--can anything be more perfect than an October day like this?


"Just before the death of flowers,
And before they are buried in snow,
There comes a festival season
When nature is all aglow."
-   Author Unknown


Thanks to Cindy of My Corner of Katy for the inspiration for "Three for Thursday."

20 comments:

  1. Hi Rose, I love all the seeds and seed heads left in your garden. I've always loved the Joy Pye skeleton, even though I didn't think of it that way, but very appropo for Halloween! I also love Oct. though I have a lot still left to plant and I have to get on the ball!!

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  2. Rose, your poems are perfect for the beginning of fall. And your photos are gorgeous as well. I am also loving these cooler temps. They have given me a little more energy and I can finally wear something other than lightweight t-shirts. :)

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  3. I just wish it would rain... though, these days we are having are perfect for being out in the garden!

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  4. You captured fall beautifully. It is a nice transition for sure. If only we'd get some rain....to add to the joy.

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  5. Good morning Rose. Yes, beautiful autumn is upon us, the time of year that the garden sports a different kind of aliveness... love the glow as the leaves and grasses turn to shades of yellow, orange and red.

    Have a wonderful weekend.

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  6. A perfect trio to welcome autumn. I too have been out in a much neglected garden lately. These temps are good for working outside. Cheers.

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  7. There are still things of interest in your garden, Rose.
    The only thing that we have flowering at the moment in mine, are Sedum Spectabilis and some late flowering clematis. Good to see some colour from these.
    If I could send you some of our water, then I would do so, be assured of that!
    Maggie X

    Nuts in May

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  8. As you have beautifully shown, Rose, autumn is definitely here. In awe of fall's vibrant color, I handle the fading garden better than the softer sun.

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  9. Fall has been very enjoyable lately! I just wish it would rain once in a while so the plants aren't stressed as they go into dormancy.

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  10. Rose, what a great Three for Thursday post! Thank you so much for joining in and being so creative with it. You remind me of the reasons I love fall so much.

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  11. Oh Rose, that is one of my favorite Emily D quotes, thank you for the reminder of her genius. I love your three things, and finding a way to illustrate them without limiting your photos to only three! Your eye has been trained to appreciate the beauty of a spent flower seed head. Beauty abounds! :-)
    Frances

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  12. Nice pics Rose. We thought autumn was here to stay too but tomorrow it is suppose to be 94. I guess that is just weather in the south.

    Have a great weekend!

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  13. Monica, I still have plants sitting around waiting to be put into the ground. Today is the day! After that, I'm done--unless, of course, I spy another bargain:)

    Beckie, You know me and heat, so I am loving these cooler temperatures.

    Carol, We could definitely use some rain, too! I'm watering daily just to keep all my new plants alive.

    Tina, Ditto on the rain!

    Di, As much as I love spring, I do love fall, especially when it's warm enough to enjoy as it is this year.

    Lisa, It's wonderful to be able to go outside at any time of day and not have to fight off mosquitos or think about how hot it is.

    Maggie, I really don't have that much blooming anymore; sedum is a great fall plant.

    Joey, I love the colors of fall, too. The leaves have been slow to turn, though.

    Rose, I pray for rain, too; I'm worried about a few new plants that really need some moisture to get established.

    Cindy, Thank you for starting this idea! After our long, hot summer, I am really appreciating fall this year.

    Frances, Emily is one of my favorites, too. Yes, I have learned to enjoy a spent seedhead, and judging from all the Susan seedheads, I'm going to have even more next year:)

    Susie, It's supposed to get into the 80's here this weekend, too; looks like I can't put away those summer clothes just yet:)

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  14. Wow I would say that fall has arrived kicking and screaming in your garden. :)

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  15. Hi Rose, I do hope that you get some rain soon. Watering can become a chore, especially this time of year.

    Lovely images and beautiful poetry that tell us autumn is most certainly here.

    Have a good weekend.....and enjoy your pretty garden.

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  16. I can quite see why Autumn is a relief to you but it came much too quickly here! Summer was so short this time :(

    It is lovely to see the colours though and as you say there is something so special about red berries against a blue sky.

    A lovely post, Rose. I enjoyed the photos and (of course) the verse :)

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  17. It looks like you are enjoying a gorgeous autumn. Ours has been unusually wet but that balances our hot, dry summer. Even our Asters are washed out this year - more white than purple. I hope we get your clear blue skies and warm sun this long weekend as forecasted. Thanks for sharing yours.

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  18. Lovely autumnal colours and words. Make me feel like curling up with a bowl of soup!

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  19. Gorgeous Rose. It really looks like fall there. Not so much here, but the temps have moderated and for that I'm VERY thankful. Love that crabapple of yours!

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  20. The light in October is so beautiful, and I sure am grateful for the milder, much more pleasant weather.

    Beautiful verses Rose.

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