Sunday 7 September 2008

Sunday safari......

Due to the bad weather insect life has disappeared from the garden.........so todays safari will be different, not so much a safari, more September in the garden.......Mr P and I spent a couple of hours this morning stacking logs for the winter.......who needs a work out in the gym !!! Good job done.....
Tiny Frank was up early and sitting on the side of the pond.......Freda has not come back..........I think she has probably been a tasty crumb to the local owl, fox or weasel.......all of which are around at the moment.........

September is a month of bittersweet pleasures..........I opened the door this morning and greeted her................she is definately here and my garden is beginning to show more than just signs of her.........


I love the softness of September............
the light is somehow different...........
it seems to filter through the leaves.......Somehow everything looks more translucent.......
Fungi is starting to appear on the woodland floor.......



and berries are adding splashes of colour.............
and seedheads bring structure and form to the garden......
All these things put together.......
make a wonderful autumnal scene........
The maples have not turned yet.......I have five in the garden and I love it when they take on their deep crimsons............has autumn arrived in your garden yet????

I leave you with the words of Louis McNeice................
The sunlight on the garden
Hardens and grows cold
We cannot cage the minute
Within its nets of gold..............
NOTE: There are 100 flood warnings across the UK this morning.....seven of them serious......hundreds of people have had to leave their homes...........the devastation is dreadful.....they have lost all or most of their belongings and don't know when they will be able to return.......the clean up operation will take weeks, if not months, for some of these people.....there have been fatalities...............every year this seems to get worse in the UK............and I ask myself why isn't the Government taking action and putting flood defences in place, where it is possible..........


25 comments:

Marimoy said...

I know what you mean about September having its own light. Even here, there are certain days where I remark, "it feels like autumn!" There is something about it... the way the wind moves, the way the trees and grasses rustle... I love autumn.

I am so very sorry to hear about all the flooding that has been going on. I can relate and I think it's dreadful that your government hasn't hastened their response. Now I know it is not just here that has a faulty government. I will keep all those poor families in my thoughts.

Rose said...

I love September, too; it has its own charm and beauty. Your Japanese maple is beautiful!
We still have lots of insects in the gardens, especially butterflies right now--but then it's been pretty warm here.

I haven't heard about the floods in the UK; our news services are focused on all the hurricanes around the coast here right now. I am so sorry for the loss that your country is suffering right now. Hurricane Katrina and the devastation of New Orleans 3 years ago woke Americans up to the mistakes our government made in preparing for floods. It's sad when it takes a disaster to get the government to act.

Cheryl said...

I love autumn to Mimi.....and you are right there is something about it.....

For some reasons Governments only seem to act when the disaster has arrived.....I am no expert but I am sure something could be done to help the victims, so that this doesn't happen again......

Cheryl said...

Hi Rose....I have been following the hurricanes to.....my heart goes out to all who suffer at the hands of these mighty storms.....

The UK had floods last year and the year before....it just seems to go on and nothing seems to get done....at the end of the day this is peoples lives.......it makes me so cross.....

Shirley said...

Hi there Cheryl :-)

Yep I agree, my garden is lacking in insects at the moment too. How nice to have Frank join you for support today – perhaps he was admiring the new homes you were building ;-) Hope Freda returns.

September Charm is the name of a Jap. Anemone I picked up last year as a rescue plant. I must take a look and see if it is in flower yet. I enjoy the change in mood of the garden this month too :-D

We have had a few colder nights here so one of my Acers has leaves that are crinkling a little with the colder winds. No sign of leaf colour change yet. Your garden is looking good – enjoy :-D

No floods in my area of Scotland at the moment but my thoughts go to all who are suffering with them at the moment. I agree floods and winds in the UK are getting worse as the years go by.

Cheryl said...

Hi Shirl.....glad that the floods have not touched you.....I to have noticed how much stronger the winds are now......we have had some quite destructive winds this summer......
Thanks for all your comments particularly the one regarding the Greenfinch.....I am concerned for this bird.......

marmee said...

cheryl,
i too love september, change is in the air. i like change. to me it brings hope. seasons are for a reason. your pictures capture it perfectly, the moss on the trees, colours in transition, wood stacked in anticipation of a crackling fire. finally with the bit of rain we had it is starting to cool off. it's feeling a bit more fallish.

i'm so sorry to hear about the devastating floods your uk is going through. my prayers are with you and your country.

Cheryl said...

Marmee thank you for your kind comments re floods.......

Q said...

Dear Cheryl,
Glorious September! It has been cool and wet in my neck of the woods too. I did find some bugs this afternoon. I also have noticed the change in the light. Your pictures of your gardens are lovely, soft and gentle like September can be. I am keeping your flood victims in my thoughts. Storms are hitting the US too. Climate change is here. We must work together to safe guard the wild life and the people!
Have a lovely beginning to your week. Always a delight to be on Safari with you, no matter what we hunt! The stacking of all that wood is a great work out! You will love having your fires this winter.
Sherry

Pat said...

Fall is my favorite time of the year. Enough dead heading...let nature do it's thing. And the temps are right where I like them.

Ruth said...

Hurricane rains are causing flooding in many areas of our continent this week. As long as people build in flood plains, they are going to run into problems with mother nature. Most, but not all floods happen because of this. We have had flooding in our city this wet summer because so many areas are paved and the water runs off instead of being absorbed by the ground. Our maples are turning red and leaves are falling already. Lovely images from your garden!

Wendy said...

Hi Cheryl,
I am so sorry to hear about the flooding in the U.K. I had no idea until you told me. My heart goes out to all those people who have been hurt or lost loved ones, homes and belongings in this terrible disaster.

September was always my mother's favourite month. She loved the cooler air and coming changes. I think she loved all of us kids going back to school too.

My pansy garden has dried up and my ferns look a little browner than yours, and I have lots and lots of acorns scattered over my lawn and driveway. Our leaves won't turn yet for another few weeks. Then it will be autumn over here!

Cheryl said...

Dear Sherry......yes I agree global warming is here, for me there is no doubt and we must do all we can to help wildlife.......
September is a wonderfully mellow month.....hopefully when all the rain stops we can appreciate it a little more.....

Cheryl said...

Me to PS.....temp are perfect.....

Cheryl said...

Hi Ruth....you are so right re flooding......many charities here have been warning about blocked drives etc but for some reason people don't want to hear.....

Cheryl said...

Hi Wendy......I love the description of your garden, I can see it in my mind......September is a lovely month.......
my anniversary is in this month and our little Poppi was born on that day, so for me it is significant......

Thank you for your kindness re flooding......

beckie said...

Cheryl, Your 'safari' was wonderful. Such atumnul beauty already in your garden. All of the berries and seeds seem ready for harvesting by the birds. And the colors of your garden are sure signs that fall is there. We have a ways to go, but the signs are starting.

I wish there were something we could do to help where the floods are. Is it just so much rain this year or the sea level rising? I hadn't heard about it. Take care, and stay safe.

Cheryl said...

Hi Beckie....storms swept across the whole of the UK in the last few days.....some areas had a months rain in a day....rivers burst their banks and drains couldn't take the high levels of water away.....consequnetly the water went into peoples homes and flooded towns, and villages......
the ground is now full, so any additional rain here could cause problems......up until now the south east has been okay, although we have had torrential rain.....fingers crossed this is the last of it.....

naturewitch said...

Hi Cheryl

Thanks for the lovely autumnal pics - truly beautiful.

The floods are a concern. I grew up in Queensland and we had minor flooding every summer. We got used to it and our houses were built around it. Houses were "on stilts" to cope with the wet and they had extra wide guttering and downpipes. The roads had deeper gutters on them too. And the stormwater drains were bigger to cope with the volume.

Living with floods can be very difficult and the stench after the water recedes can be pretty bad. The main thing that local authorities can do is to landscape to minimise the intrusion of the water, eg, build up river banks and to ensure that waterways have a free run to the sea.

Our thoughts will be with you and others as you face this challenge. xx

Lisa at Greenbow said...

The poem reflects your pictures just perfectly Cheryl. Both are just beautiful.

I just love autumn. September is a wonderful month. A tease really. Here we go from very cool nights to quite warm days. Just perfect for being outside.

Cheryl said...

Thank you naturewitch for your wise words.....

Cheryl said...

It is a beautiful time of year Lisa...enjoy it in your part of the world.......

ChrisND said...

Great September "safari"...you know, doing work (like stacking wood) is what those gyms try to substitute and simulate. I say if you can do it natural, it's better. :-)

Cheryl said...

Couldn't agree more Chris....each to their own......

Anonymous said...

Hi Cheryl...Firstly Many Thanks for your B`day wishes for Jasmines B`day:)~X~
Fortunately we havent been hit by the floods!!!!but it`s a poor shame :(and my heart goes out to those who have been...Hope it hasent affected you:)
We are most definatly Blessed:)

Have a lovely Evening love to you and yours~X~