It’s still summer. But the signs of autumn are definitely here in the Hudson Valley. Leaves are turning color on the maple. The light is different. The mornings and evenings are cooler. The school bus came today to pick up the kids across the road.
The apple orchards have their signs everywhere. We will soon be seeing weekends full of leaf-peepers. Sigh.
I’m not ready to say goodbye to summer and I won’t, officially, until September 22nd.
Nevertheless, I walked around the gardens yesterday to see what flowers are fading and/or changing.
The brown-eyed susans are still going strong.
The coneflowers are fading. But I find this stage equally beautiful.
Goodness, this hollyhock is blooming like crazy! Stunning.
The limelight hydrangea is turning pink. There’s a little spider to the left of center that I didn’t see at the time I took this picture.
I did see this stick bug, however. These guys fascinate me. Remember the pair that I found mating last year on my front porch gate?
Today, some errands. Some more laundry. Some time with my husband before I have to leave tomorrow and he has to leave on Sunday. Another sigh. Changes are on the horizon, and quite frankly, we don’t like changes that involve us being apart. We like and are grateful for the work, but the separation part of it is not at all easy.
Happy Tuesday.
Lovely flowers and bugs! I look at those glorious hollyhocks and can only see the turbaned ladies in ruffly ball gowns and velvety green stoles that we made of them, at Grandma’s house. I don’t know why she allowed us to decimate her garden, but she did and we did! Many , many blooms and buds were sacrificed for our pleasure. Life at Grandma’s was good.
Bless your Grandma. I don’t know if I would have been able to do it!
Good morning Claudia, I always get a little sad to see summer go and the flowers fade but I love fall too. Like you, I hang on right to the end and don’t put pumpkins or fall decor out until the last week of September. I know how grateul you both are for the work it must be difficult to be apart. I’m so in love with Stella! You’re going to miss her too.
I am! But I’ll be back in about 5 days for a day and then back to Hartford for 4 more days and then home for good.
Claudia, enjoy the days leading into the next season, the next chapter. Separation will be unhappy for you both but you always find your rhythm and though apart, you know you and Don always resonate together.
We’ll find our rhythm, but we’re sort of over this kind of thing. We will have spent approximately 9 or 10 months apart from each other by the end of the year.
I may have mentioned this previously, but we have a species of stick bug called praying mantis here in our part of the world. My daughter called them “praying Baptists.”
We praying mantises here, too, but darned if I’ve seen one in a while!
I feel exactly the same about the Fall, though probably because I just want to cling to Summer for as long as possible. Fall begins at the autumnal equinox & no sooner. But I do have a sister – a HUGE fan of Fall – who puts Summer away & brings out all things Fall each year on Labor Day weekend. She just LIVES for the Fall every year. I love Fall too but just think that everything gets its moment “in the sun” and nothing should get an artificial advantage. Oh well. Hey, I would have guessed that the hollyhock was a carnation, so you taught me something today! Yes, I am a bit “challenged” when it comes to plants, but I love learning more about them. I keep a folder on my Mac of photos I come across that I’d include in my own “dream” garden if I ever have one [there are currently 518 photos there] and will add your hollyhock today. So very pretty. We had some “vigorous” thunderstorms last night but are drying out nicely right now. Enjoy the rest of your day – peace.
#Resist
It’s a very different hollyhock than I’m used to, but I’ve grown to love it.
We are probably going to get those vigorous thunderstorms tonight. It’s due to rain shortly! Peace, Janet.
Yes…I think fall is upon us. We have so far…a high of 59 with brisk winds…rather cool here. Some trees are beginning to change, and my flowers are fading…except for my hydrangeas. They are having a banner year. I didn’t realize Don was leaving so soon…but then I have to realize it is September. I know you two will weather this season, with grace…you always do. What an opportunity for him! Enjoy your day…are you going back tonight or tomorrow? ;)
The maples around here are already changing color! Yikes. Yes, Don’s leaving on Sunday. Sob.
I’m going back tomorrow morning, Donnamae.
Our flowers are fading also. Still you have some beauties to enjoy. Taking some time today to read a bit and just rest. Safe travels Claudia. Ashleigh made it back home last night, I miss her already.
I had a long phone conversation today with my best friend and that was lovely. I didn’t run an errand that I was going to run today, but I’ll do it tomorrow morning before I head back to Hartford.
I firmly believe that as we get older, it is harder to be apart. Do you have more theater work ahead after this job is completed, or are you home for a few months? I know you mentioned that you will be able to meet up with Don as he travels with the show. That will be time to look forward to during this period. So hard……
My Hydrangeas are absolutely CRAZY this year. I have never seen them bloom as they did. They have turned pink ~ but it is a brighter pink than ever before. Now they are fading to that absolutely perfect champagne beige color. So pretty!! I am hoping the leaves this Fall might also have more color than the past few years. Guess we will see. It is SO cool here today. I don’t remember a first day of school being this cool in several years. Better than too hot as schools here do not have AC. This weather has put me in the mood to clean and purge ~ so there’s that!! Another big box out the door to the Thrift today. Enjoy your day home, and safe travels as you make your way back.
It is much harder. I’m starting on another production right after this one, but it will only involve a few days of work here and there.
It was 80 degrees here yesterday and humid and it’s humid today but we’re supposed to get rain the rest of the week.
We are having some scary storms here in Central PA today…so I am staying inside!…Yesterday was so nice and my son and I cooked outside on our charcoal grill…I have wanted to ask if you and Don ever cook veggies on an outside grill…they are so good that way!…Also if you’ve never tried a portabella mushroom burger they are also great…I grill mine with some balsamic vinegar sprinkled on!
They’re headed our way – I’m not sure when they’re going to arrive but they’re coming!
We don’t use an outside grill but we grilled them on the broiler the other day and loved them – I’ve also roasted them in the oven. And we eat a lot of portabella mushroom burgers!
Lovely photos! I am in love with your Hydrangea. We have a hard time growing them out here. I feel the same about being gone from my husband/best friend, so hard. I will be thinking of you. :) Kit
We are lucky. Hydrangeas do well here. I have three of them – all different – on the property.
Very hard to be apart. We don’t like it one bit!
I posted the same thing today – the light is definitely changing!
It is. Very different from summer light, Debbie!
You are right, the sun looks different this time of year. Have a safe trip back to Connecticut.
Marilyn
I will, Marilyn. I’m headed out tomorrow morning.
Thanks for sharing your reflections on the all too quickly disappearance of summer; your posting of photographs from your garden; and for another photograph in the last posting of your wonderful front porch. Such beautiful photographs.
Thank you for your kind words, Susan!
Hi Claudia,
I am a new fan of your blog. I found you by accident on Instagram. We love many of the same things, reading, gardening, collecting vintage things, and more. What caught my eye at first is your kitchen wall looks to be the same shade of yellow as my kitchen. I agree with you about decorating for fall, it should begin around the time of the autumnal equinox and not before! Since I’ve found you, I look forward to reading a lot of your older posts!
I’m so glad you discovered the blog. Thanks so much for stopping by, Susan. So nice to meet you!