Summer's Last Storm

taken:
day ninety four
09.21.12

At Lake Mille Lacs, on the last day of summer, in the final hours, a blustery ending brewed. 

Dark, thick clouds hid what would have been summer's last sunset. 

The winds whipped, the waves swelled toward shore. 

Before long the rain began to gush from the sky. 

Summer's last storm, washing away the brightness of summer, brought with it the rich and crisp days of autumn.

Exquisite

taken:
day ninety three
09.20.12

Just another tropical hibiscus blossom, this one pink, exquisite, radiant and ruffly.

Head Over Heels

taken:
day ninety two
09.19.12

I am head over heels for comsos. Truly. So much so, that this year I grew 5 different varieties, growing all from seed. They just make me happy, simple as that! This darling cosmo, providing a bee with a late summer refreshment, is the 'daydream' variety. With sweet and cheerful little blooms, I enjoyed growing this variety for the first time this summer.

What A Difference

taken:
day ninety one
09.18.12

As fall approaches the asters are still emerging, ever so gradually. They seem much more purple, on this day, in the fading evening light, than they were 15 days before, when they appeared more pinkish in the high afternoon sun. What a difference lighting, angle and 15 days can make!

Still Going Strong

taken:
day ninety
09.17.12

Just a sweet little succulent that I planted last summer. It's still going strong, along with it's moss rose companions.

Hope

taken:
day eighty nine
09.16.12

Sunflowers are bold and tall. 

Sometimes becoming weary, drooping toward the earth, weighted down with seeds, too heavy to face the sun. 

Sometimes life can feel the same way. 

There are days of strength and adventure, nothing could waver. 

Then, there are days when the seeds of everyday pressures weigh down even the bravest and sturdiest. 

When unable to face the sun, the fact is, it's still there, above, radiating sparks of hope and strength.

For someday, those heavy seeds will fall, leaving the opportunity to lift and face the sun again.

Nearly Invisible

taken:
day eighty eight
09.15.12

This tiny spider, gleaming in the sun, weaved it's web beneath our mailbox. It was itty bitty and nearly invisible. 

I only noticed it because the sunshine highlighted it from behind. Sneaky little spider!

September Afternoon

taken:
day eighty seven
09.14.12

Ok, can you tell I love cosmos? Here's another one, standing tall and graceful on a September afternoon.

From White To Pink

taken:
day eighty six
09.13.12

Deep pink now, but these hydrangea blossoms spend most of the summer pure white {as in this and this}. 

This 'pink diamond' turns vibrant as fall approaches, splashing what once was pale and smooth, with richness and texture. 

Unfolding

taken:
day eighty five
09.12.12

One of my beautiful Tropic Escape Hibiscus blossoms in the midst of unfolding it's vivid saffron hued petals.

Amber Waves

taken:
day eighty four
09.11.12

September 11th, a day of reflection and allegiance. A time to be united and patriotic.

These native grasses, growing nearby, reminded me of the lyric, "for amber waves of grain", in the song, America The Beautiful. Although they're not grains, exactly, they could still be considered "amber waves", by flowing and rippling all at once in the gentle September breeze on the steadfast day of national togetherness.

Ruffly Petals

taken:
day eighty three
09.10.12

I once heard that marigolds deter rabbits and other critters from nibbling on your garden. I guess the scent of the marigold can act as a repellant? So I decided to give it a try about 4 years ago. The first summer I bought the marigolds on sale from the garden center and planted them in a border around the entire veggie garden. That fall I harvested the seeds and planted them again the following spring. I've been harvesting and planting the seeds every year since.

Although they add a lovely cheerfulness to the otherwise boring looking veggie garden, it was definitely wishful thinking that they would keep out the critters. Especially after this summer {here and here}! Nonetheless, it'll still be a tradition for me to outline the garden with these easy and fast growing marigolds every year to come. Especially since they produce gobs and gobs of seeds, so why not use them, right?

I really do love marigolds. I love their blazing color. I love their ruffly petals. I even love their distinct scent, which reminds me of childhood for some reason. To me, they're nostalgia.

Sixth Birthday

taken:
day eight two
09.09.12

It was my youngest son's 6th birthday. A day to celebrate with a few of his little friends! Even though my son says, "he doesn't eat cake", I made mini cupcakes for the kids. I didn't frost all of them since the frosting is what he doesn't really like. What??? I know, isn't that the best part? It's my favorite part anyway. Along with a few other treats we also served Kit-Kats, my son's favorite candy bar. I jazzed them up by dipping one end in melted chocolate and speckling them with sprinkles, transforming them from average ol' Kit-Kats to birthday Kit-Kats...yum!

Overcast

taken:
day eighty one
09.08.12

It was just one of those days, a day I didn't get out to look for anything pretty or interesting to photograph. It was overcast and super windy. With evening approaching I decided to just snap a photo of the sky and the gloomy fast moving clouds.