morning glory — Page 11

Yesterday, I was walking Scoutie on the property. As I headed around the corner of the porch, I saw the most gorgeous Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. He was on one of the blooms on the butterfly bush, wings fully spread, quite still.

No camera.

So I tried to hurry Scout along as best I could so I could get her back in the house and grab my camera. I managed to get back there with the camera, but the butterfly had changed positions. He moved around a lot more and I could never quite capture that stillness he had when I first saw him. I think he sensed my presence.

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I followed him around the property. Here he is on the phlox. But the images are a bit blurry because his wings were moving. This will give you an idea of his size and his beauty.

swallowtail 2

I rather like this photo. Wings in Motion.

But oh, if I had the camera with me when I was walking Scout, what a picture that would have made!

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Then there’s my pal, the Hummingbird Moth. He’s everywhere: the phlox, the butterfly bush, the hanging plants. He moves very quickly.

hummingbirdmoth 2

This morning I opened the door to let Scout out and thought I saw something, but couldn’t be sure.

I grabbed my camera.

first morning glory

I was shocked. The morning glories have been growing very slowly this year. Some of the shoots haven’t even reached the fence yet and the vines have yet to really take off. I didn’t expect anything out of it until at least the end of the month.

So this was a delightful surprise!

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August 12, 2014: The first morning glory bloom of the season.

And you know I love my morning glories.

We’re due for rain today and tomorrow. We really need it as it’s been very dry here lately. But I hope it holds off for a while so I can try to find that darn butterfly again!

On another note.

I’m heartbroken by the tragic death of Robin Williams. His talent and heart were enormous. Many of you have either struggled with depression or watched someone you love struggle with it. It is very, very real. I’ve lost friends to suicide, friends who saw no way out, who couldn’t summon another possibility in that one moment in time. To try and understand the death-grip of depression from a rational point of view is pointless. All rationality goes out the window. What is needed is compassion. I pray that those who suffer from depression and who feel lost will reach out for help. We need to erase the stigma that surrounds depression. It’s an illness. As is addiction.

Such, such sadness this morning.

Happy Tuesday.

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No sooner had I published my post yesterday morning (using photos I had taken on Thursday) than, while on a trip to the kitchen for some more coffee, I glimpsed a bit of blue in the Chicken Wire Fence Garden.

I went to the door and looked out the window. “You’re seeing things!” I said to myself, wherein I promptly sat back down in my blogging chair for another hour or so.

Fast forward an hour. Don is up, drinking coffee. I keep thinking about that mysterious flash of blue. Still in my pajamas, I put on some shoes, go outside and see this:

morningglory1

What??? It’s as if the Universe listened to my pleas for “just one morning glory bud to open before I leave for Hartford.” I couldn’t believe my eyes. A big fat, gorgeous morning glory had opened in the early morning hours.

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Perfection.

I ran back into the cottage, yelling to barely-awake Don.

“Oh my god, you have to come outside! You have to come out now! One of the morning glories has opened! Just come outside, now!!” I grabbed my camera and hightailed it back outside.

Wait…what do I see? Another bloom.

morningglorysmall

I had to pull this one through one of the openings in the chicken wire. It was sort of hidden. Hello, bloom! Get some sun!

And wait….what do I see on the other side of the fence?

morninggloryback

Another bloom. For Scoutie’s viewing pleasure.

Three blooms for Claudia on a Friday morning.

Don, to his credit, emerged somewhat sleepily from the house about 5 minutes later. Bless his heart. He couldn’t believe how big the flowers were. His assignment? Take a daily photo of the morning glory progress, because there are lots and lots of buds ready to pop open.

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I’m so friggin’ excited! I know that many of you are saying, “Claudia, what’s the big deal? Morning Glories are a dime a dozen. Some ‘experts’ even call them invasive.”

Well, my little heart is pumping with pride because I had just about given up on any bloom this year, since I sowed those seeds a little later than I had planned. (The first batch didn’t take.) It’s September. Everyone in blogland is chatting about fall, though it’s still technically summer, my friends. And I will keep celebrating summer until the first day of autumn. Oh, who am I kidding? It’s summer as long as things are blooming in my gardens. End of story.

Invasive? Have at it. Go for it. Make yourself at home.

morninggloryside

Such old-fashioned, cottage garden gorgeousness.

Why did I have to leave when all of this wonder is popping out along my fence? Doesn’t seem fair, does it?

On the other hand, I think Mother Nature took pity on me and said, “She’s leaving again, you know. Give the girl a thrill. Open up a few of those Morning Glories.”

Thank you, Mother Nature. (My mom taught me to say please and thank you. I’m nothing if not polite.)

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A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books.

Walt Whitman

High praise, indeed, from Mr. Whitman. Here’s to the glories of the Morning Glory.

Happy Saturday.

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Flora and Fauna Edition

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A Note

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