When Fall Meets Winter

A couple of weeks ago we had some frost filled mornings.

Then it snowed.

At the time, a lot of the trees and shrubs hadn't lost their leaves yet.

Now, two weeks later, most tress have since lost their leaves and the snow has long ago melted.

But this is what things looked like when fall met winter.

Within days after Halloween the snow fell.

Covering our poor little jack-o-lanterns.

Welcome November

Welcome November!

The door is closing on autumn and opening soon to winter.

Cool colors are fading.

Tones of rust, copper, gold and brick are enveloping the season.

Single leaves hang on with all their might.

 Jewels of miniature Indian corn from my garden boast intense fall hues.

I can't say I'm happy about winter being within reach.

But I do love the shades and scents of fall.

Hope you have a wonderful and warm November!

I'm On Fine Art America!

I'm bursting with excitement and thrilled to announce that I have opened an online photo gallery on Fine Art America! A place where prints of my fine art photographs, from greeting cards to canvas wall hangings, can be purchased. It's been a dream of mine for way too long and now it's finally official! When you have a chance be sure to check it out. Also, if there has ever been a photo that I've featured on my blog that has caught your eye, that you'd be interested in purchasing, and is not on my gallery yet, please let me know and I'll be sure to add it. 

Welcome October

Welcome October!

Change is happening. Autumn is beckoning.

With hearty winds branches are becoming bare.

The spotted knapweed blossoms have turned brittle and stark.

Some pine needles are in on the colorful change too.

Crisp leaves ripple in the breeze, flickering like shiny sequence.

While the scent of fallen leaves begins to hang in the air.

The season of glowing hues of amber and fire is a radiant time of year.

My hope is for a warm and long autumn before the cold of winter sets in.

Happy October!

May Summer Live On In Your Heart

taken:
day ninety three
09.21.2013

Well here it is, the last official day of summer. As always, it went by fast! 

On this, the last day of summer, my boys and I went for a visit to my parents house. No visit is complete without a walk through their yard and a peek at my mom's flowers. The last couple of years my mom has grown the most amazingly beautiful zinnias. They are GORGEOUS! They are tall, bright and perfection. I love them and am filled with envy since my zinnias never look that awesome. I'll keep trying though!

I'm sad to see summer go, but with vibrant memories of zinnias, cosmos, marigolds and sunflowers I can enter autumn feeling fulfilled with happiness and smiling because it happened. :)

For those of you who are summer lovers like me, may summer live on in your heart all year long, warming you on the dreary and cold days ahead!

Flourishing

taken:
day ninety two
09.20.2013

These pink and white splashed geraniums, that are growing in a flowerpot on my front porch, are still flourishing. They're in full summer mode now but it won't be long, the season of tender annuals is almost over. Perhaps not all has to be lost though, I've heard you can overwinter geraniums? Maybe after a little bit of research I might try it.

Last year I overwintered my tropical hibiscus plants with success but I ended up with a tree frog in the house which was probably clinging to one of those plants when I brought it in. My cat found the tree frog and chased it around the house. Poor little tree frog! I was able to rescue it and put it back outside but I was afraid it was too traumatized to be ok. I felt so bad! Needless to say I learned my lesson. If I overwinter I need to check the plants really well for little hitchhikers. And thank goodness it was just a tree frog and not a mouse!

Weathered

taken:
day ninety one
09.19.2013

This weathered mailbox post of ours is filled with interesting moss and lichen in shades of green, yellow, gray and even red. It becomes even more visible when soaked by the rain, adding depth and character to an otherwise boring old mailbox post.

Embellished With Raindrops

taken:
day ninety
09.18.2013

An early morning rainstorm embellished this sweet sunflower with shiny raindrops.

Worth The Wait

taken:
day eighty nine
09.17.2013

My purple asters are just beginning to bloom.

They're popping with feathery vibrant pompom blossoms.

They were worth the wait.

Bubbly

taken:
day eighty eight
09.16.2013

We had frost this morning. Yes, frost! But good thing it was a light frost and all of my plants and flowers are still alive. By the time I was able to walk through the yard the frost was thawing and dripping. The melted frost clung to this foxtail plume like soft little bubbles while reflecting light from the morning sunshine. Bubbly bokeh, I love it!

Tried And True

taken:
day eighty seven
09.15.2013

Here we are, entering the last official week of summer. Only 6 more days left! Most people have already moved on from summer. Welcoming cooler weather. Decorating for fall. Harvesting what's left of the garden. I'm also accepting what can't be avoided.

The cosmos are still so full of life. But it's time to start collecting their seeds to save for next year. Every year I vow to plant more cosmos. And I do, I always plant more, plotting out more and more space for them with each passing year. They're my tried and true flower. They never fail me. If I could have a whole lawn filled with flowers it would be overflowing with cosmos. They're definitely one of my faves. Although, if you know me well,  there's a good chance I've said that about most flowers...ha ha. :)

Vibrant Welcome

taken:
day eighty six
09.14.2013

I love a lazy morning walk through the garden.

That's when the morning glories greet you with a vibrant welcome.

As the day goes by the morning glory winks goodbye and hides until the next morning.

Uncurling

taken:
day eight five
09.13.2013

I'm so happy that the zinnias didn't get the memo that summer is nearing it's end.

They're still uncurling with lovely color.

Brand new blooms with layers of petals screaming "look at me!"

I hear you, zinnias, and I'm looking.

Keep the beauty blooming.

Lost Lately

taken:
day eighty four
09.12.2013

I'm feeling lost lately.

Finding the words for this blog, it's difficult sometimes.

I get stuck and then I struggle.

Photography is a cinch.

I've found my confidence there.

But words, they don't always come very easily.

My shyness is hard to conceal at times.

However I do enjoy the challenge and hope that along with the struggle will come strength.

Here's a shy little petunia growing in a flowerpot on my front porch.