It’s the first full day of autumn and I’m offering a mish-mash of the slightly odd and the very average.These are a handful of red Maple leaves plucked and gathered for this very purpose. In the high hills of rural New York autumn sneaks up slowly and then as October breathes down our backs it picks up speed like a blaze in dry grass. These are the first scouts of fall.
My lawn is fairly large[ thanks to a good friend] but, it can’t go on forever. Where it stops other things grow. Come September the Goldenrod reaches its full height[ as much as 6 ft!] with masses of bright yellow flowerettes. Add to that palette the opposing side of the color wheel and VOILA-wild, purple Asters.
My path with Goldenrod and Asters.
My friend who moved to rural N.Y. from her birthplace in France told me this story. After she had lived here a while a friend from France came for a visit in the fall.By the time the friend arrived from the airport it was night . Come morning, the friend arose, stepped to the kitchen window and gasped. She exclaimed,[ In french, of course] ” Oh my God did you plant all those beautiful yellow flowers yourself?!” My French-born friend just laughed and replied: “That was exactly my thought when I first saw the Goldenrod.”
Weeds aren’t so bad when you don’t know they’re weeds!
And lastly a couple of autumnal cartoons : The first from this year’s Stick’s calendar for September.
Last and possibly least, Snarky Trees. Enjoy the most poignant season of all.
If you live in the north-east, you know what comes next!
September 24th, 2008 at 5:51 am
What a great entry into Autumn, Margaret. It’s getting chilly here and the leaves are changing, and no more hummingbirds. Love those two cartoons. The smugness of conifers. Brilliant!
Wish we could skip over winter and go directly to Spring!
Steph
September 24th, 2008 at 7:15 am
Chilly is the word all right, Stephanie. I’m wearing a tee, a turtleneck, a sweater and a light jacket. And the sun is out!! brrrrr.
But we love having all four seasons so we pay the price. When I’m warm it feels totally worth it!
Marg
September 24th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Margaret, I love your painting of goldenrods and asters! It’s stunning. The cartoons are classics in every sense!! Happy fall.
September 24th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Thanks so much, Kassie. I love the wild, native plants. Though,I admit,mostly because they grow all on their own and ask virtually nothing of me!
Margaret
September 24th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
hello my friend. i love your cartoons they always make smile. here on the hill the horses are geting their winter coats. when i’m done with their chores i seem to be covered in a layer of hair. i can’t wait for the leaves to change some more so that i can ride through the woods. it’s such a peaceful time. Happy Fall.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:27 am
Hey, Francine, you paint a happy picture. I’ll think of you ambling through the woods on your pretty filly. If you catch a falling leaf before it hits the ground you’ll have good luck all winter long!
M