Shades of Autumn

Autumn clothes our upstate New York farm in a dazzling array of colors.

 

Festivities begin even before the Autumnal Equinox,

with wild Asters and Goldenrod putting on a spectacular display to herald the change of seasons.

The woods are alive with fiery earth tones.

Vines in the hedgerow across the road are quick to turn a bright sangria red, and fields of pale lavender Asters bloom with abandon beside the tall Goldenrod.
(Click photos to see more detail)

Looking toward the hill we see the trees decked out in rust and gold against the emerald and olive greens. Sheep peacefully graze in the pasture at center right. 

(a bit hard to see unless you click. I'd like to make the photos bigger but that doesn't seem to work with this template).

I've scattered deadheaded seeds of Rudbeckia triloba (a Black-eyed Susan) over the bank and they've germinated amazingly well. The patch was prettier a while ago when Queen Anne's Lace (now just brown stalks and seedheads) bloomed beside the Susans.

 

The fall colors compliment the red barn.

Cows can be seen grazing in the same field as the sheep, but usually at opposite corners.

 

I helped decorate for the party with a few spots of added color.

But very little help was needed. Mother Nature did a wonderful job all by herself. She gave us some spectacular skies,

and puffy clouds...

A few

glorious days

of warm sunshine

and mild temperatures,

burnt orange trees to match the rust colored cow!

Buff colored sheep and the soft wheat shade of sudex (sorghum-sudangrass). 

But there've been plenty of chill winds and gray, rainy days in the mix,

to prepare our thin skins for the cold days to come,

lest we forget that Old Man Winter is just around the corner.

We had a taste of him today with cold, wild winds and rain.
I hear another heavy shower pounding on the roof tonight and there'll be snow flakes in the air tomorrow, so the weatherman says.

But we've had a few days of perfect gardening weather this week - precious gifts to be savored and enjoyed.

The autumnal show is almost over, but oh my, it's been a joy to behold and we have much to be grateful for! 

Shades of Autumn

A tangerine and russett cascade

of kaleidoscopic leaves

Creates a tapestry of autumn magic

upon the emerald carpet of fading summer.

The golden memories of sunsets and twilight

Hover in the backdrop of the peek-a-boo patch

of silver skylight.

Judith A. Lindberg

Time for a nap thinks Jasmine.

Focus on Poppies

That's not just a title....it's an instruction....for myself.

Many weeks have gone by since I last posted, and you know how much happens in the garden in spring. Life is busy! Between plants, birds, other garden visitors and daily life in general, there is so much to post about that I'm having a hard time focusing on just one topic. So, I've finally zeroed in on poppies for today!

The ethereal Oriental Poppies are such a beautiful sight to look out upon as they nod in the early morning breeze...

...but they are shaded by a small Maple tree until late morning, making it difficult to photograph them in the soft morning light that captures colors so well.

Consequently, most of these photos were taken around 11:30 AM when the sun had moved enough to shine on that garden bed.

I adore this shade of salmon pink...

...and those tissue paper petals with the drops of dew still clinging to them.

Their dark, spidery centers are a stark contrast to the delicate petals.

The vibrant orangy-red shade is harder to capture with the camera so that you end up with the true color.

Late afternoon light produces more yellows.

My focus is wandering......
You didn't really think I could do a post without including a couple of kitty pics, did you?
Columbines and Lupines are just 2 of the other beautiful bloomers filling the garden with color at the moment.

And then there's Hannah....always my faithful companion when I wander with the camera. I think she's a ham.

Regal Mr. Cardinal has been visiting regularly. I'm not sure if the missus is home with the children but we rarely see her.

Hubby is spending time working outside, moving slowly, but breathing the fresh air and soaking up the sun's rays, both of which are so good for his recuperation.

Near the end of May, during a week of soaring temperatures, a sweet friend of our daughter came up from the city and helped her get a good start on planting a large market garden. Those girls worked very hard out in the hot sun, but they had a good time doing it!

Can you believe we're 8 days into June already?

Refocusing on the poppies now....
 one last shot of them basking in the late afternoon sunshine....
something we all like to do.

Hail to the New Year!

Christmas has come and gone and the New Year is upon us.

Old Man Winter is having a blast!

He came early in December, dug in his heels, and seems determined to stay for the duration.

This past week he has socked us with plenty of wintry weather. We've had snow every day in varying amounts, and today the temperatures were frigid, the snow heavier and the wind wicked.....a good day to rug up and stay warm inside.

This sweet little Downy Woodpecker, on his way to the suet cage, obligingly took a minute to pose nicely for a photo (or two or three).

I felt sorry for the birds having to deal with the such cold temperatures and that nasty wind today. They were busy at the feeders all day. That's a Tree Sparrow on the left and 2 House Sparrows on the right.

December flew by with the busyiness of Christmas preparations. Hannah "helped" me decorate the Christmas tree.

Hanging the ornaments brings nostalgic memories of Christmases past, children growing into adults.....

and having families of their own.

Celebrating the birth of Our Savior.

I love baking and decorating Christmas cookies!

One of my favorite presents came in a package of lovely surprises from my very dear friend Alice, who blogs in Canberra, Australia at A Growing Delight.

It's a card with a picture of Kookaburras. When the card is opened it plays the sound of the birds "laughing". I almost died of fright when I first opened it (thank you very much, Alice!) and Hubby and I had a good laugh :) Hannah was completely enthralled, and determined to find the creatures making that wierd noise.

Jasmine also came to investigate....

but decided she was not particularly impressed.

Another very sweet surprise came from my dear friend, Vero, who blogs in France at Au Fil du Jardin. She sewed this beautiful card! Isn't the little snowman adorable?

Hubby and I spent a quiet Christmas Day with an old friend visiting in the morning, and then all the family came on Saturday for the weekend. We had a wonderful time of laughter, good food and just being together. It's such a treat to have everyone here at the same time...something not so easy to accomplish these days.

Daughter 2 gave the grandsons noisemakers.....and won the hearts of all the adults, especially their parents (uhuh). Do you suppose she holds a secret grudge against her brother for some long ago incident? Hmmmm.

The big kids had to get into the act when the "Whacky Sticks" were opened. I can't remember their exact name, but this one is fitting. They made a lot of noise when whacked together! (I think those toys were probably mysteriously "lost" shortly after they arrived home).

And now here we are in 2010! (already!)

This white world of winter is very beautiful, despite the cold.....

but I'm dreaming of spring and the flowers to come!

(there's still one Anemone de caen flower blooming and another one coming).

Alice and Richard, there's still some shortbread left!
It won't last long, but
I'll bake a fresh batch when you come to visit :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Thanks for a wonderful year of blogging and friendship. I look forward with eager anticipation to this next year of blogging adventures.

May God bless you all, my dear blog friends.