Thursday, September 10, 2015

Fall Cometh

Fall has hit Oregon early.  The nights are crisp and in some places, already very cold.  The trees are stiffening, preparing for winter.  School buses clog the roads certain hours.

My sunflowers are fading.   In a panic, for the bees, who love them, I planted more about three weeks ago, never thinking they'd grow tall enough to bloom.  they haven't grown that tall, but are now 3 feet in height and some getting ready to bloom.  They will not achieve the height nor flower production of those I planted early in the summer.


A Bumblebee on one of the last fading sunflower blooms of my forest out front.
The bees are not happy with the vanishing sunflowers.  I try to please the bees.  And now the birds too.  Along with the cats.   Such a slave I've become to appeasing nature.

In fact, my latest hobby is building bird houses for over wintering, from twigs, to avoid material costs.  Will post a photo after my first bird housing unit is completed.

Today I stopped in at the dollar store.  On the window, was a poster, from the movie Frozen.  I thought "Frozen", like my right shoulder.   Old people woe.

This week, I'd hoped to catch three more big boys at that complex where Dandy originated from, the big boy with the swollen face.   He's doing great up in the Portland metro area.  Recuperating fine.

But it wasn't to be.  So much drama at that complex.  Night owls all.  Drugs all over too.    It was a useless endeavor, and I called it last night, because sometimes I recognize a lost cause in time to save myself from a lot of misery.

We're having a couple of hot days today and tomorrow, then more days next week, below normal temps for this time of year.  We've had rain and gray too, early this year.  My maple's leaves began turning in August, due likely to drought.


A few petunias hang on.

The Rose of Sharon is blooming faithfully.
Soloman, Rogue, Blueberry, Slurpy and Comet in the under eaves cat run.
The cats laze in the sun, when they can find a warm spot, and are completely without purpose or proper remorse for their laziness.



The kids are all back in school and so I must remind myself when driving, of the school zones and the police cars waiting, like predators crouched in the brush, for prey.

I feel these last days of warmth must not be wasted. I've not gone camping or really done anything this summer but sit in this house and dream.   Maybe its time to pack up my dreams and head out for a night somewhere else.  Somewhere under the black night skies with stars that pierce the blackness and me, prone, watching.

12 comments:

  1. Nice pictures of the flowers... Yes, fall is coming to us as well.... I love hearing the leaves crunch under my feet (or bicycle tires) and everything else that goes with this time of year. The kitties have no remorse for their lack of ambition, but will blame you when it's too cold and wet to go outside.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is true. I will be blamed. I do love the fall also!

      Delete
  2. Anonymous2:53 PM

    While you have some relief from the heat, the arrival of autumn heralds the winter. It is the season of mixed thoughts, I think. You really should have a night under the stars before it gets too cold. You will feel better for it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You will definitely be blamed for less than ideal weather. Hardly fair since they don't thank you for the good days...
    I doubt the bees will care if this crop of sunflowers doesn't reach the height of the last. They will revell in whateer they get.
    And yes, to a night away. Reapite for the soul.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are right. The bees are not impressed by height or size, only the gifts of the flower. So if they flower before a freeze, they'll be pleased and I will be also. My cats blame me for all inconveniences and give me credit for none of the gifts of life, like sunshine, or a sleeping spot that's cushy. Darn.

      Delete
  4. Love your beautiful pictures. You said the trees are stiffening. Interesting choice of words. What exactly do you meant by that?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was not a good term I suppose, not literally meant. Bracing for the winter I suppose. Stiff upper lip time for the trees, because of the winds we have here and they get whipped around. Losing their leaves (clothes) which can't be easy to do year in year out, going naked in the winter like that, so to speak. Here where I live fall usually brings wind storms, and the trees better be healthy or branches will be flung or even entire trees. Yesterday I went out to the cat yard and found a three inch diameter branch had ripped off the maple. It was not windy.

      Delete
    2. Got it. Stiffening--very poetic.

      Delete
  5. I am like you (if not nearly so dedicated!) and pulled off to the side of the road recently to save a turtle from being run over. Sorry you had to write off that complex but glad you made the safer, sane choice. I adored your poetic ending to this post and hope you get to go camping sometime. I have the same wish for us but don't see it happening anytime soon with family health issue and my partners work travels. Oh, well. We can dream. At least I was able to plant a bee-loving caryopteris perennial. I just hope it doesn't die prematurely because of our heavy clay soil. Best wishes!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would save a turtle too, Darla. I don't suppose I'll get camping actually, since most of the campgrounds close by the end of September or earlier. I'm going to look up that flower you mention. The valley here is very sticky clay, long long long ago, it was underwater.

      Delete
  6. How lucky to get a second crop of sunflowers...your flowers look lovely...

    ReplyDelete

Round Up

Today is cat round up for tomorrow's five spots.  Two more came up from the vet student in Harrisburg late this morning.  Over 60 fixed ...