It's apparent that many bloggers have been waiting anxiously
for the fall season, kinda like Fall TV. It started the last couple
of weeks in August. Big hints being dropped about leaves
turning yellow and feeling a chill in the air. They were ready to
move on to Autumn decorating. I'm moving a little slower.
"Ah, September! You are the doorway to
the season that awakens my soul..."
~ Peggy Toney Horton
Don't get me wrong. I'm not dreading the new season. I'm
anticipating it. The warmth and coziness, the colors of rustic
orange and red, and the foods and recipes that celebrate
home. But give me a little time. Let me ease out of summer's
beauty. Yes, the brilliance of summer colors are gone, faded
by the light changing, end-of-season natural processes.
By all the lovely tokens SEPTEMBER days
are here. With Summer's best of weather
and Autumn's best of cheer.
~Helen Hunt Jackson
Things are happening. The sights and sounds of a new
season are arriving. Have you heard the Katydids? A
prediction of sorts from those soothsayers of nature; when you
hear the sounds of the katydid, a frost will happen in about
40-49 days. That seems about right figuring our first frost date
for zone 6. And, as I walk in the reserve, I hear the chorus, and
I think about what lies ahead. I like the seasonal changes. It's
anticipation and excitement. Let me experience and feel all
that glorious transformation.
For now, it's cleanup and putting away summer's attire, it's
harvesting, it's cutting back and pulling the old and faded.
I'll keep my Zinnias and Tomatoes, they keep on giving right
now like old friends. Ron and I will grab that porch time as
much as possible, we'll bike till the cold wind puts us down,
and we'll share a glass of wine on the swing till we move in-
doors to sit in front of a fire....
Thanks for stopping by.
Visit me on Instagram, dianarn2627
If I had to pick a favorite thing to grow, I would ask if I could
pick two favorite things. One from the flower category and one
from the vegetable side. Yes botanically the tomato is a fruit, but
the Supreme Court decided this issue a long time ago. So I think
my two choices are the Zinnia and the Tomato.
Want endless bouquets? Plant Zinnias! ~ Diana Moore
Zinnias are my favorite flower. Three things to know about this
annual? It's drought tolerant and stands up to the heat, provides
great color, and is low maintenance. Packaged seeds offer a wide
variety of height and color. Your job is to choose a spot with full
sun, prep the soil for planting and follow package instructions.
Water as needed. I've never fertilized my zinnias but an early
feed can only help. They are great cutting flowers. Keep them
deadheaded for flowering all season. Always leave a few flowers
to set seeds to save for the next year's planting.
"There ain't nothing better in life than true love and a homegrown
tomato." ~ old saying
Gardening for beauty and bounty offers twice the rewards.
~ Diana Moore
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The post this week has to be dedicated to a history making event.
A total solar eclipse will sweep across the United States. An
astronomical phenomena? Absolutely! You may have seen
photos in the past, but this you can't ignore. Crossing our nation
from coast to coast, a 2500 mile path, the time start to finish will
run four hours
Three things cannot be long hidden:
The sun, the moon, and the truth.
~ Buddha
What you see depends on where you are, or might want to travel to.
Nashville, Tennessee or Hopkinsville, Kentucky are ideal spots if
you live in Ohio and want to keep it within a reasonable driving
range. Kentucky experiences the longest eclipse time at just over
2 minutes and 41 seconds. In Ohio we will only see a partial eclipse.
About 90%of the sun will be blocked.
Here are some fun facts about the solar eclipse.
*Weather is a factor! A cloudy day will hurt your viewing chances.
*What is a total solar eclipse? The moon passes between Earth
and the sun, and appears to cover the sun. It will block the sun's
light. Not everyone will see a total eclipse but will experience a
partial one.
*What is a syzygy? An astronomy term, it is the alignment of the
earth, new moon and the sun, resulting in an eclipse.
*The first recorded eclipse was in China 4000 years ago. They
thought it was a dragon eating the sun. (from astronomer
Derek Kief, H.R. Macmillan Space Center)
*The last time a total eclipse swept across the entire USA was in
1918. This total eclipse will be the first visible from the
contiguous United States since 1979.
It is only during an eclipse that the Man in the Moon has a place
in the sun.
~ Anonymous
To avoid serious eye damage, you must take precaution when
viewing the solar eclipse. Everyone viewing needs to wear
special solar glasses or you can use filtered welder's glasses.
The sunlight can burn the retina leading to long term or
permanent damage. Caution your children. Don't look at a
partial eclipse through unfiltered binoculars or a telescope.
Look for special eclipse glasses online or check out your
local library for free ones. Several local grocery stores had
them available as well. Make your own pinhole projector
by using 2 sheets of paper. Instructions online. There are
eclipse events being planned locally so that is a safe option
as well. View online by checking out the NASA website and
Space.com. Here's the information I received by plugging
in my zip code. The moon cover will be 88% of the sun. The
moon will be in the sun's path starting at 1:01pm and
continue for 2hours and 48minutes. The best time to see the
peak of the eclipse will be 2:28pm. It's great specific
information for your area.
Monday expect traffic to be heavy as thousands are traveling.
Millions of eyes will be looking upward as the sun disappears
from the sky. The animals and insects will react as if the sun
is setting. It will be as dark as sunset is. It will happen
whether you want it to or not. It will not be as be as you
suspect but something more....
No garden truly blooms until butterflies
have danced upon it.
~ K.D'Angelo
There's nothing more beautiful or peaceful to watch than a
butterfly. They are enchanting and graceful. As they glide
and flit about the garden one can almost be envious of their
freedom in flight.
My garden includes a variety of flowers and plants that will
encourage visits from butterflies. It is important to provide
food and nectar sources for them. Butterflies require nectar
as a food source while caterpillars eat leaves as theirs.
We delight in the beauty of the butterfly,
but rarely admit the changes it has gone
through to achieve that beauty.
~ Maya Angelou
Did you know there are 4 stages in the butterfly lifecycle and
it's possible to observe that in your own backyard. I was lucky
enough to have a butterfly visit my Dill plant, lay an egg and
from that a caterpillar hatched, which changed and transformed
its body and emerged as a butterfly. It was amazing. On previous
posts I've shared many photos on this process. It's visually exciting
to watch this process.
There's nothing in a caterpillar that tells you
it's going to be a butterfly.
~ Richard Buckminster Fuller
I hope you find the time to stop and watch and appreciate such
a simple joy of a butterfly fluttering about the flowers. What
beautiful gardens they must have visited!
Dance with the waves, move with the sea
Let the rhythm of the water
set your soul free.
~Christy Ann Martine
Vacation in Hawaii was fabulous! All those descriptive phrases, all
the adjectives that can set your mind thinking of that big, beautiful,
bounty of deep blue water fits. How can you not be happy while
walking along the beach. Endless sounds of the sea crashing on the
shore casts its spell...only to repeat again and again. I love the
ocean, the sand hot, you make the dash to the salty sea, and you're
embraced by the cold water and the heat of sun. It is its own therapy!
At the beach, life is different. Time doesn't move
hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by the
currents, plan by the tides, and follow the sun.
~Anonymous
There is much to see and do in Hawaii, (Maui and Honolulu
for us). Tropical flowers, exotic fruits, luaus,volcanoes, and
historic sites await you in these lush surroundings.
The view from the balcony of our rooms were amazing and
inviting. We couldn't wait to be out in this paradise.
There are so many pictures and stories to share. It was exciting,
it was a getaway, it was tropical, and it was fun to share it with
our daughter and son in law. If you want an adventure, visit
Hawaii! I guarantee you'll be so happy you did. Please enjoy
the beach scene picture I took and Waterlogued. Copy onto
heavy stock paper and frame if you'd like.
ALOHA everybody and thanks for stopping by!
Visit me on Instagram dianarn2627 to see more pictures of
Hawaii and lots of other great stuff.
In summer, the song sings itself.
~William Carlos Williams
What's not to love about summer. Sun-filled, sultry, sensational
and well summery. Our gardens are beginning to share, flowers
are blooming and begging to be cut for a bouquet.
Are you connected to your garden? Do you find pleasure being
outside. Nature nurtures. Watching the hummingbirds zipping
about the flowers, and butterflies gently landing on the blooms
will make you feel relaxed.
Oh, the fragrance of a garden makes it a
place of delight, think of Lavender and
Roses and Herbs.
~Diana Moore
Summertime is special. Flowers can help you find your joy.
I think grandson Ethan has found his joy!
Thanks for stopping by...
Visit me on Instagram, dianarn2627
Today we celebrate the nation's 241st birthday. That day in 1776
when the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the
Continental Congress.
An all-American holiday with parades, barbecues and picnics, flag-
waving all around and culminating with fireworks lighting up the
sky.
I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to
see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.
~ Abraham Lincoln
Thanks for stopping by. Step out tonight and see the fireworks !!!
Visit me on Instagram dianarn2627
