Change

Promise of autumn

Teases and relieves the heat

Steadfastness of change.

After a few days of much needed rain and cloudy cool weather, today was a good day to do some late summer maintenance and plant fall greens.  I'm anticipating spinach (bloomsdale), turnip greens (seven top), mustard (Florida broadleaf) and kale (dwarf siberian). If the winter is mild, they may last until spring. If not, they will provide for fall and early spring meals. 

Groundhog update: We removed three groundhogs from our property. We also trapped three raccoons but successfully removed only one. Two who were trapped together managed a get-away. We have not had any invaders for more than a week. Hopefully, the rain will restore some natural food supplies and they will not return this season. I think that next year I will plant them a cantaloupe patch outside the garden.

Through the Seasons

March

 

April

 

May

 

June

 

July

August

 

September

More change to come as seasons transition.

Groundhog

We coexisted peacefully

Side by side for many years.

 

A sturdy fence our friendship kept. 

Why this summer did you decide

To break the pact we had,

Digging under to forbidden land.

 

Now we must choose:

Your charming antics or our fruit.

 

You cannot resist the melon

And so the trap is set.

 You'll be removed to wilderness.

We hope the land is fair.

Farewell, with fond regrets,

Your friends, Jane Clark and Bill

 

Sharing

Squirrel scampers away

Apple in mouth to enjoy

Our bountiful fruit.

I believe in sharing some of our fruit with the squirrels, groundhogs, deer and crow. They provide entertainment for us. However, this year they took it ALL. I'll have to figure out a way to get some for us this year. That usually means picking before it is ripe and letting it ripen inside. I mis-timed it this year. I hope they enjoyed.

Chain of Life

Micro to macro,

Decay, regeneration,

I am a small link.

 

I followed this green heron and its mate while paddling this morning.  It stands at about 20 inches. The lake was alive this morning - insects, minnows, small fish and large, and of course the birds.

Melton Hill Morning 8/11

Still water sparkles

Light breeze riffles the surface

Easing my passage.

A lone of its kind

Umbrella Magnolia

Gracefully drapes.

Class Reunion

Traveled back in time

Our youthful selves remembered

Transcending the years.

Patterns

Learning new rhythms

Patterns of living emerge

Pleasing my spirit.

Morning's quiet stillness

Broken only by birdsong

Fish spash and paddle.