Posted on by Donna

Calm

There are moments when all anxiety and stated toil are becalmed in the infinite leisure and repose of nature. ~Henry David Thoreau

October appeared on a gloomy, gray, wet and cold day reminding us that the seasons are changing and we are in for more changes soon.  Sooner than I would like.  This week I am linking in to Donna@Garden Walk, Garden Talk and her meme Word for Wednesday.  This week’s word is repose.  A more fitting word for my October garden, I could not find.  My garden is beginning to decline, to get ready for a long rest.  There is an eerie calmness about the place as I stroll along these days.  The only thing you can hear is the crunch of fallen leaves since the song birds have flown.  We have had high winds and pounding rains and the garden has an unkempt look about it.  Yes there are many flowers still going or back for another round now that the weather has cooled.  But the majority of the garden is in repose; relaxing and taking a much needed break.

 ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangea has turned from summer pink to fall deep mauves and red.  The leaves are also turning red as it begins its decline.  At the first freeze the leaves will curl and fall; the flowers will turn brown.  I have decided to leave them up this year and watch their beautiful decline.

 

 One of my favorite grasses is Northern Sea Oats.  I have featured it many times this season as the ‘oats’ appeared, turned a bit red and are now looking brownish purple.  They are the most stunning against the bright green foliage that is backlit by the sun.  One of those amazing moments in the garden that you hope you can capture.  The ‘oats’ will stay through the winter giving this plant wonderful winter interest.  This plant is a must have for 3-4 season interest-to watch as it fades..

 

 The white garden is quiet… no longer showing her bright white blooms.  The red twig dogwood bush against the fence is beautiful this time of year as the bark gets a brighter red and stays that way all winter.  The Obedient plant in the center is done blooming, but you can see the ground cover white aster (lower left)  starting her show along with some sedum, phlox and fall crocus or Colchicum (lower right) blazing bright for one last bloom.  The leaves of the tall ash are providing ground cover that will be needed this winter.

 

 Joe Pye begins to wane as it turns to a fluffy mauve color ready to blow its seeds all over the garden.  I need to move some of it to the meadow this fall.  The color only gets deeper as it says goodbye for a much needed rest.

 

 Goldenrod begins her rest in the meadow.  The last of the flowers turning a rich brown against the bright green.  I love to watch this flower fade as well.  The pollinators hate to say goodbye to this faithful feeder, but it is time she relaxed and reserved her energy for a long nap.

 

I found this amazing sight in the hosta garden.  This stump faces North and is not visible from the house or garden because it faces the fence.  As I was peering into the meadow it caught my eye.  The moss is so thick and lush with the fungus all a sign of its slow decay.  Can anything be so beautiful as it fades to become part of the soil that once fed it?

 

It is also Hope Grows Day on the 5th at Sweet Bean Gardening with Hanni.  In September we were treated to a warm month where many flowers and veggies continued to flourish.  My hopes for butterflies were fulfilled as we found our first monarch caterpillar along with many monarchs flitting about the garden and meadow.

Here is one hope fulfilled in September…

 

I have many hopes for this autumn.   Most of all I hope to see warm, sunny days in October so I can get the weeding and fall planting finished before the ….. Oh I can’t even think about much less say what is coming in another month or 2…

For now I will be in rapt repose in my fall garden.  There is something so peaceful and beautiful about the garden in decline waiting to sleep before it wakes renewed in spring.


 

 

 Simplicity and repose are the qualities that measure the true value of any work of art. ~Frank Lloyd Wright

 

 


I’ll also be joining Tootsie Time’s Fertilizer Friday and Tina’s PicStory Weekend Flowers on Friday.  So drop by to check out all the wonderful flowers.

Monthly (usually around the 10th) I guest blog at Walkabout Chronicles.

Hope you enjoyed my first post at Beautiful Wildlife Garden, If You Build It….

 Please remember, to comment click on the title of the post and the page will reload with the comments section.

All content is copyrighted and the sole property of Donna Donabella @ Gardens Eye View.  Any reprints or use of content or photos is by permission only.

Shameless Book Flaunt–For those that have asked my poems were published in the book, The Moment I Knew. You can order the book from the publisher Sugati Publications where more of the proceeds go to the womens’ groups chosen by the authors.  Free shipping from the publisher as well.  You can also order it from Amazon soon.  I hope you enjoy the book and I would love to hear your feedback on my poems.

 

 



51 Replies to “Calm”

  1. I love that Thoreau quote – and I love fall in the garden. Maybe because of the slowing down and calming of nature. Beautiful images!

  2. hello Donna, what a beautiful calm and gentle reflection on your garden and life you seem much calmer in yourself than earlier in the year, we too have had wind and rain there is a gale blowing over the island as I write this, I love your back lit photo of your northern sea oats grass, with all your native planting and care of nature I am not surprised you have monarchs may there be many more in the years to come as they spread the word of the wonderful menu you offer, take care, Frances

    1. Frances you know me too well. I think I am calmer these days. My personal fav pic is the Sea Oats too. I do hope the monarchs spread the word to other butterflies as well. Thanks Frances for the visit. I do so enjoy them.

  3. Donna, your garden now has the very special early Autumn look, Last week we had a few days of Summer like temperatures, back to normal now though.

    1. I used to get more melancholy during fall. My husband still does. The weather is supposed to shift a bit late week so we may have a stellar weekend.

  5. Donna, you’ve captured the essence of repose so well that I’m yawning in the most deliciously sleepy way… ready to take a long winter’s nap, like your goldenrod and hydrangeas. The quiet is the hardest thing for me to adjust to at this time of year–I love the cooler air and the feel of the sun, but miss the constant activity of the birds (even if they did get a little too squabbly last month).

    That mossy stump is beautiful–how can decay look so luxuriant? Wishing you many sunny, warm October days to store up in your heart.

    1. Stacy thank you for those lovely thoughts. I have the hardest time with the quiet too. I miss the birds terribly. That stump was such a gorgeous surprise, I felt the same way as you. In person the moss is so thick I have never seen it that way before. It was glorious to touch…wishing you a lovely October and fall!!

  6. What wonderful photos! I like your line about hydrangeas and leaving the flowers up to ‘watch their beautiful decline’. I often find the summer color of Endless Summer is a bit too much for me but I adore them at this time of the year. A beautiful decline indeed.

    1. So glad you enjoyed the photos Debbie. I did not expect the hydrangea to show herself with that color. Most stunning I have seen her. Just the right conditions for a stunning decline.

  7. Your garden is beautiful while reposing (is that a word?). I haven’t seen that nice color on Endless Summer hydrangea. Watch out for northern sea oats they can be Beauty disguising a self-sowing Beast. It took about 15 years, but now they are a full-fledged problem in my garden, though beautiful. I gave them a huge space but they were not satisfied.

    1. Thx Carolyn…the hydrangea has been stunning this fall and as for the Sea Oats, they behave as badly as Obedient plant. I think I found a spot where they will be less aggressive but we shall see. I will move them to the meadow if not…

  8. Donna, you did a wonderful job expressing repose in sentiments, apt words and lovely pictures. I have been exceedingly busy with work and have not had much time for much else. I am in need of repose. Thank you for joining Word for Wednesday.

    1. Glad you enjoyed it. When I think I am busy, I think of you for you really know busy…hope you get some repose soon!!

    1. I just won’t succumb to it and I am happy for the heat of summer and any warm, sunny days this fall…happy October.

    1. There is something about decline Esther. I used to mourn the garden in decline and still do a bit, but I welcome the calm and beauty of aging in the garden…

  11. Your garden is just as beautiful now as it ever is. My favorites are the hydrangea and spider web…excellent! There is a lot of calm in the garden, and I relish this time of year with its peacefulness and holiday cheer to come.

    1. So glad you enjoyed the fall garden. I also enjoy the clam just not the white stuff that we will see soon enough. I could use the rest this winter to catch up on some things. But loots to do in the next month to get the garden ready…

  12. Hi,

    Lovely photos 🙂

    I’m in mourning for the changing of the seasons… It’s strange as I used to love Autumn and my least favourite season was Summer, but now I find myself loving Spring and Summer the most.
    However, I do think it’s because with Autumn comes longer nights and actually it’s this that I dislike the most – I need sunlight to wake me up in the morning and hate getting up in the dark.

    There are some wonderful Autumn colours around at the moment; brilliant reds and oranges.

    1. I did mourn it but have been rethinking it as a more calm peaceful time to rest and replenish, plan and await spring. The long nights and rising in the dark are a problem for me too. We have a few months of this darkness and then the light slowly creeps back. Our Autumn colors are not as brilliant as in years past due to drought and warmer fall weather…hoping to see more of the reds and oranges soon!!

  13. Wow! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more beautiful photo of Northern Sea Oats! It is seriously beautiful. Love the mossy tree trunk too. The little lichen is so cool. Fall is definitely not my favorite time of year. I’m so sad to see the garden in decline but perhaps I should relabel it. “Repose” seems much more pleasant. Great post!

    1. Thx Grace. The Sea Oats is one of those shots you say, “hey how did I ever capture that”…I don’t think I can make it through the long, dark, cold winter without relabeling it. By March I will be whining and in need of green things and warmer weather…

  14. I’m a bit behind, but so glad I saw your post. Your feelings come through your writing so clearly. I, too have mourned the loss of summer, but fall has such a beautiful atmosphere – almost as if it’s beckoning us to stop and enjoy it before it’s completely lost to winter’s touch.

  16. The quiet beauty of aging … The hydrangeas are still beautiful. I agree about the sea oats (or river oats in my garden) being a must for 3-4 season interest. Even when they are not backlit 🙂

    1. I can certainly use the calm soon with the final push to get things done in the garden. I do need to make sure we don’t shut ourselves up this winter like we usually do. So much of nature to experience every season…love your River Oats!!

  17. You describe so eloquently the changes in your garden, without being maudlin, accepting and just moving on. What a talent to see the slow decline as beauty, and needed rest.

    I try……sometimes I get it, and sometimes I can’t do it this way. I so enjoyed seeing the shots of your garden, it’s always nice to peek over the fence.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

    1. Jen, it has taken me years to get to this place. The past year was an incredible journey that has allowed me to see things this way more. You are on a journey and seeing it as an adventure and a wonderful journey to the inner you will help you get there. Don’t worry there will be plenty of whining from me once winter starts in. The thing I had to accept is that we are always on the journey. We never get there. But it is the journey that makes it worthwhile. I am so glad you had a chance to peek over the fence. You are welcome anytime.

  19. To be able to appreciate and embrace the changes as the garden declines in fall is a gift. I wish I could look at ours with more enthusiasm and less regret. I adore the deep mauve of your hydrangea! Does it keep the color if you cut the blooms and bring them in to dry?

    1. It has taken me a long time Cathy to get to this point of calm. I am now looking forward to all it will hold next year. I have not cut them to see if they retain their color. Always meant to, but I will have to do that this weekend and see…

  20. Oh so beautiful, Donna, so glad to see your hope fulfilled. He is amazing! Thank you for visiting my finale… I’m missing those little creatures.

    1. Carolyn I am so pleased you saw him. I know we both were so hopeful and enthralled by these amazing creatures. I cried when I saw him. Tears of joy for the blessing that had been bestowed on me…my gratitude overflowing.

    1. Thx Beth. The monarch caterpillar was gorgeous. I was so excited to see the swallowtail caterpillars in your garden. I am still trying to attract them. Maybe the monarchs will put in a good word for me.

  23. Thanks for the view of all these shots. I love love LOVE hydrangeas – haven’t seen any as deep pink as that before. Really like your photo of the Northern Oats and the colour combinations of the green, yellows and browns. And well done of your capture of the caterpillar – stunning stripes!

    1. Thx so much for your kind comments and for taking time to visit the garden. The hydrangea is usually a sweet pink but as it matures it takes on this beautiful mauve color. So glad you enjoyed the photos and I was so blessed to find the caterpillar. It was a sign that I was doing things right for my wildlife…stop by again anytime…

  24. How lovely Donna, and I couldn’t agree more, this time of year, the garden gradually passing in to dormancy, has a particular kind of soft and gentle magic to it. The hydrangea looks beautiful – I do love a plant that dies well!

    1. I love to watch so many plants decline…there is such beauty in them. It is a magical time as well. I hope you are doing well and feeling better.

  25. I very nice post on Donna’s ‘Repose’. My garden looks much as yours and is slowing drifting off toward its winter slumber. I like your picture of the Northern Sea Oats. It is one of my favourite grasses.

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