Wednesday, October 14, 2009

"Gray drip-wet dawn Leafless tree in solitude ~ Don Sax



The dull gray skies go on and on. Saturday morning the birdbath was iced over and later in the afternoon snow swirled briefly before turning over to rain.




Summer ends but the crisp, clear days of autumn do not follow. Instead we have bone chilling damp and weepy skies. No lovely red and gold leaves to ease the way from summer's bright colors into winter's dreary browns. I wonder, will the leaves change this year or will they simply fall from the trees still green.



I said goodbye to my garden during a brief spell of sunshine. I was sad to see a monarch butterfly and a red admiral there. They won't survive this hard freeze. The monarch waited too long to leave home and journey south.






The annuals are gone now. The perennials are tough, they will hold on through a few more freezes, then they too will give up hoping summer will return.













I know the year is dying,
Soon the summer will be dead.
I can trace it in the flying
Of the black crows overhead;
I can hear it in the rustle
Of the dead leaves as I pass,
And the south wind's plaintive sighing
Through the dry and withered grass.
~ Mortimer Crane Brown

45 comments:

Susie said...

Poor butterflies. Hate that they waited too long to leave. Ice already? Brrh!

Hope you get some warm sunshine Marnie.

JulenaJo said...

Goodbye, Summer! We're having a similar autumn. It's like winter already. Your photos are gorgeous though. Lots of color left! Thanks for sharing!

Gayle said...

One last goodbye to summer is bittersweet!

tina said...

A hard freeze already seems too too early. That red admiral is awesome. I've never seen one before here in my garden.

P.S. I've tentatively id'd the wasps as German wasps. Thanks for setting me on the right track as you were right.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

It seems fitting some how that a person named Mortimer would write a poem with the word 'plaintive' in it. While the garden does look like it is suffering I feel like fall is a time of rebirth. I like the idea of throwing off the shackles of summer mowing, weeding etc and embracing the cold weather that brings times of rest, development of ideas and art.

Cheryl said...

Not a good autumn Marnie....... So frustrating for us gardeners and there is nothing we can do.
I do hope things improve before the season comes to a close.

Poor butterflies.....both so beautiful.....
How low do your temperatures go during winter??

Despite the weather you have some beautiful blooms there, all is not lost.....

Darla said...

Very well put today..your photos are beautiful!

Bill S. said...

The death of summer brings about the rebirth of next year. I will turn to finding beauty in the winter birds and frost crystals. Great post.

Jann said...

Beautiful poem, and photos! Summer is definitely dead here! Yikes!

Gail said...

Sighing...a beautiful post Marnie. I loved the too true quote! Sighing again~~thank you for the beautiful flower photos...they are cheering me up. The butterflies are gifts. gail ps Lisa's comment about Mortimor and plaintive made me laugh out loud!

Chloe m said...

Marnie,

Like that poem...it seems to express how we all feel when summer has departed oh too soon.
That Glad. photo is luscious!
Rosey

BeadedTail said...

Lovely poem and photos! It is sad that the Monarch waited too long to leave.

sweetbay said...

Gorgeous photos Marnie. It is sad the Monarch waited too late, but of course they don't all make it to Mexico. At least his beauty is immortalized in your photograph.

I hope the trees change color in your area after all -- a drab autumn is always a disappointment.

The photos you posted today are a real feast for the eyes though!

Unknown said...

It's about to get ugly outside! Can't wait for the fall colors to peak but then it's all down hill from there. Until spring...Love the photos and poem.

TYRA Hallsénius Lindhe said...

Dear Marnie, I can sense a melancholy feeling...beautiful pictures and words.

Tyra

Dawn said...

*gulp* Tyra beat me to it, but your words sound so melancholy. Fall must be in place as the prep for the New Year...."should all aquaintance be forgot and never...brought to mind." Sniff, bye summer of 09.

Carol said...

Hi Marnie... I hope you get some warmer sunny days... you never know about the butterflies... they may find a safe place to hide until the warmer days come again... Indian Summer ... your photos are so filled with joy and light while words... yours and others reflect feelings of loss ... our gardens and flying friends gone or soon to go ... deep to sleep. There is something so profound about your post... the juxtaposition of the images and words. Quite beautiful. Thank you. Carol

beckie said...

Marnie, it has been a gray and dreary fall. :( I so look forward to this season, but don't think we are going to see much in the way of brilliant tree colors. I guess we will have to wait tilnext year.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Marnie, It appears as if you are going from Summer to Winter up there..... Love your photos. It won't be long 'til you will be posting snow and ice pictures. Right????

Hugs,
Betsy--From my laptop in Georgia

ShySongbird said...

Poor butterflies, I don't like to think of such beauties not surviving...
Your beautiful, colourful photos are guaranteed to brighten the darker days, and it is a very dark day here today, grey and damp although mild. Your blooms are so lovely, what a delicate pink the Gladioli is and the poor butterflies are stunning...the Summer has gone so quickly!

You have some wonderful photos on your sidebar too Marnie.

Judy said...

Marnie, you still have so many more flowers than we do! I can't summon enough enthusiasm to try photographing the asters this week! I did pick the last of the raspberries yesterday morning while they were still frozen, and popped them right into the indoor freezer, before they could thaw! Half of them were disintegrating in my hands as I picked - very wierd sensation!

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Poor Butterflies. You can't help but wonder why they chose to stay instead of listening to their instincts. Too focused on your beautiful blooms to hear nature's call? I know it must be hard to see Fall fizzle--or should I say drizzle? I know the winters are tough in the midwest. Hope it isn't too cold this year.

Alan Pulley said...

Wonderful photos!! I enjoyed browsing thru your blog!

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

"Then, depression set in." At least it didn't snow here, but seriously, how long is this lousy weather going to go on? At least you still have some perennials hanging in there.

Rose said...

I am so sick of gray and gloomy skies I could scream! Remember last year? I was out planting bulbs in mid-November in short sleeves. Oh well, there's nothing you can do about the weather so you might as well enjoy all your lovely flowers still blooming for as long as they last. You can't beat sedum for giving some bright spots of color.

What a joy to see the Monarch and the Red Admiral, but so sad at the same time to think they won't survive. I had a hummingbird visit a week ago and am worried about him, too.

troutbirder said...

Such beautiful flowers and words Marnie.
btw how about posting that salmon recipe sometime?

joey said...

A beautiful post, Marnie, and the poem ~ perfect. Love the header photo! I'm seriously not ready for this weather, much the same as yours :(

Balisha said...

Hi Marnie,
Goodbye summer indeed. I love your new header. Wonderful pictures to show us what's blooming in your late fall garden.
Balisha

ChrisND said...

Yes, the sun and warmth are now precious. This year's fall transition has left something to be desired -- I missed the mild autumn days. You still have some great color left.

Anonymous said...

simply beautifully captured shots...lovely!

Anonymous said...

I like your flowers and the thoughts you made about the freezing weather and how the perennials hang on through one or more freezes.

Patsi said...

I'm amazed by all the color you have with perennials. Viewing your blog from work(new computer)and wow your pictures are so much sharper. Great shots !

TC said...

Sad. Isn't it?

Another season falls.

Anonymous said...

What a great way to end the season with all those blooms! Sorry to hear about the poor Monarch. :(

garden girl said...

What a bittersweet, melancoly poem. Your photos are beautiful Marnie. I especially love the glowing grass plumes.

Hopefully the weather will be a bit better next week! We still haven't had frost or freeze in the south burbs, but the chill and rain has seemed never-ending.

Meems said...

Oh, Marnie,
I feel your sorrow over the summer ending and not having much of an autumn but your photos brighten one's soul for sure. We FINALLY got down to 70 today which was a welcomed relief from the 90's we had for the last two weeks. Wish we could order up the perfect weather for both of us. :-)
Meems

Anonymous said...

Love your new header shot, very autumnal! Like you, I am very sad to see summer go. We are expecting a hard freeze tonight, so I went out to bid my flowers a fond farewell. I know there will be a few tough survivors here and there, but soon they'll all be gone till next spring. Good thing I planted all those bulbs! But I have a lot more to do once it warms long enough to do so.

Anonymous said...

I love your photos and garden tips. I was wondering if you know the id of the plant with clusters of white flowers - across from the male cardinal photo? I had one volunteer in my garden this year and have no idea what it might be.
Leafwing Gardens, GA

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Anonymous, the photos are:
NY Aster
Sedum Autumn Joy
Monarch butterfly
Red Admiral butterfly
Pink glad
Victoria Blue sage
Calif poppy
Jupiter's Beard
Chocolate Joe Pye
Miscanthus sinensis Gracillimus an ornamental grass
Hope that helps.
Marnie

Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog said...

So sorry you haven't seen autumn yet. I was thinking we were never going to see it either but it finally showed up this past weekend. Hooray! Maybe the snow and ice is temporary. Keep up the hope! But there's nothing like frost on those grasses, is there?

Kathleen said...

I can totally empathize Marnie. We had a killing frost almost two weeks ago and it's really brown here ~ so depressing. Your photos bring back summer for me. I hope your perennials are still going strong ~ even those are done for us now. It seems like it's getting so cold too soon, doesn't it? I wish the butterflies could have made it. :-(

oldcrow61 said...

Some of my perennials are still hanging on but it's pretty well all over with now. It's been cold and rainy for the most part lately. A few days of sun and hopefully I can finish up outside. Your photos are lovely.

Naturegirl said...

Stunning images gail! Most of my perennials have perished with the frosty nights. Time to get covered with over with a blanket of leaves for warmth from the S. word!

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

We've had to hard frosts a bit earlier this month but it's been pretty warm (for Oct.) since then. I love fall!

A Colorful World said...

Gorgeous photographs and such great poetry--and I share your bittersweet mood at the passing of summer's joys when not replaced by resplendent Autumn....