Category: Seasons

Winter Weather: a swinging solstice

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The last day of fall went out quickly, having been swept away by an eager winter storm.  Yes, Winter blew in early with four inches of rain, and by noon  she had begun a swift and frigid blowing.  She howled around the eaves, worked her way into the house through invisible cracks and then came in through the windowsill sounding for all the world like a flute!

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That will need fixing!

The lights began to flicker, and hearing all this horrible blowing pick up in speed, I decided to stop what I was doing and go have a look.  Opening the back door I felt Winter’s frigid breath blow right past me.   Too cold!

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Standing in the doorway with my sweater pulled tightly round my neck,  I listened as dry leaves hissed and tree branches rattled like dry bones.    Eerie, I thought, and shivering I closed the door tight.

~*~*~*~

This morning it is 32 degrees and while the wind isn’t quite as bad as yesterday it is unrelenting.  It is also making the air outside feel like it’s in the 20s!   Winter and I don’t get along.

The cold, the short and cloudy days all get to me.

~*~

Yes,  it is officially winter, but I have decided to greet it differently this year, to be more upbeat!  I think this might help.

~*~
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Photo Friday: I couldn’t help myself

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This fall has been particularly lovely.  I can’t tell you if it is only my perception of the season, or if in fact it is truly better this year, but I find that I can’t help but add just one more view…

I stand looking out my window and see that the rain has washed away the dust from the far-reaching windstorms generated in Hurricane Sandy’s fury.   This wet and overcast view enriches the fall color.  It is an enigma to me that with all the rich, warming, color of the season, I should have to bundle up to go outside, but I want an unfiltered view for my portrait.

Thus bundled and standing on the front porch I set up my camera and try to capture that warmth, saving it for this winter when it will be truly frigid and seemingly bereft of life.

Finding what I’m looking for, I capture the moment.

CLICK…

I study the treeline trying to decide on another suitable view, when suddenly the cloud cover breaks allowing a single shaft of light to fall in the center of the trees.

There in the middle of all this loveliness burns the heart of fall, and I think to myself,

“This will do.”

NOTE:  Today’s images are best viewed full size.  Please click the photos for best color and clarity.

~*~

UPDATE:  For those who can’t get enough fall color you can find plenty more from all over the US on Growing the Home Garden’s website ~  www.growingthehomegarden.com/2012/09/the-fall-color-project-2012.html

Fall revisited, and a bit more on Winged Sumac

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First let me demystify the Winged part of Winged Sumac.

Winged Sumac gets its name from the “wings” that grow along the shaft of its composite leaf.

Here in the closeup is one composite leaf.   For those who may not know, a composite leaf is made up of several leaflets attached to a central stem.  In this young specimen the stem is attached to the main stalk of the plant.

Notice the growth along the shaft?  Those are its wings!  😉

~*~

Now for a few more photos of Autumn before it is all gone for 2012

     This was taken at the end of the day with an overcast sky.

So beautiful!

Squirrel!

~*~

Note:  Want to know more about Sumac?  Then check out these informative sites!

How we can utilize the plant…

And how nature and wildlife utilize use the plant…

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*Fall is Not Easy: a colorful view of the farmlet

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Here on the Farmlet it seems that every fall, just when we start getting some great color, the wind comes and takes it all away.  This fall was no exception and to make matters worse I find myself lame and on a walking stick.  And for those who are wondering, “YES, I am going to the Dr. tomorrow because it has been a week and I am not improving.”

However, wind and lame knee aside, I decided I would give it my best shot and get out to see if I could capture what remains!

Lil’ Bit tiptoeing through the wet leaves.

A festive chicken yard

The newly revamped front flower bed. 

NOTE:  It used to be harder to find native plants, shrubs, and perennials, but all of a sudden the deep South is “getting it.”  I am back in my element!  Not all is native, but the bulk of it will be when I am done!

*Winged Sumac 

This is something I have wanted in my garden for some time, but had not found a local source for it.  I don’t know how it got here perhaps a bird, or the tornado storm, but it is definitely a welcome native.  Do you know why she is called “winged?”

Notes from the USDA Native Plants Database:  “Sumac serves primarily as a winter emergency food for wildlife. Ring-necked pheasant, bobwhite quail, wild turkey, and about 300 species of songbirds include sumac fruit in their diet. It is also known to be important only in the winter diets of ruffed grouse and the sharp-tailed grouse. Fox squirrels and cottontail rabbits eat the sumac bark. White-tail deer like the fruit and stems.
Sumac also makes good ornamental plantings and hedges because of the brilliant red fall foliage.“

One burnished tree. 

This one can be viewed closer by clicking on it.  😉

~*~

Happy Autumn!

~*~

(I had fun, even if the results are less than spectacular!)

NOTES: 

  • Today’s title “Fall is Not Easy”  comes from a favorite children’s book I used to share with my little students during the season.  If you have little ones Pre-K to 3rd grades (+ or -)  then perhaps you would like to preview this entertaining book.  Look HERE
  • Why is Winged Sumac ‘winged?’  Have a look at the USDA Plant database PDF – HERE  and the site information HERE
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