"Good Morning Autumn"

 

A brief introduction to Autumn in North Carolina on this lovely Friday morning.

This morning at 7 AM the light on the fig tree was so beautiful

following our first cool night.

This made me jump! Our resident Charlie gecko clinging onto the dining

 room window to wish me "good morning."

The last of the dahlia blooms still enticing the bumble bees.

Definitely a toast and marmalade morning!

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

September song -

"Best I love September's yellow,

Morns of dew-strung gossamer,

Thoughtful days without a stir,

Rooky clamours, brazen leaves,

Stubble dotted o'er with sheaves -

More than Spring's bright uncontrol

Suit the Autumn of my soul." 

~ Alex. Smith ~

The month of September brings the autumnal equinox on

 Tuesday the 22nd - the official date of the new season.  

Usually though we think of the first day of September as

 being the arrival of Autumn.

The garden is changing rapidly now. After the horrendous rains here on Monday night - we were pounded and flooded with 6 inches - things are looking different. 

To top it all off we are now in a heatwave with the heat index temperature reaching 105F yesterday, higher today with as much as 110F of heavy, moist air making any outdoor work or activity not only miserable but very dangerous!

Sadly, no Horse chestnut trees growing here but I do still have one

 copper-hued conker brought back from England many years ago! 

I like to hold it, roll it in my hand and and reminisce about my 

childhood Autumn days.

We spent a little time outside yesterday, early morning, Bob doing storm

 damage cleanup, me digging out the amaryllis bulbs and deadheading the

 now brown and dry blooms from the hydrangeas.

This is my first try at keeping my winter blooming bulbs through spring and

 summer in hopes I can force them back into bloom around the holiday season. 

 I had planted the 4 large bulbs into the garden in May (see their beautiful 

leaves above), and one pleasantly surprised me with a baby!

They now have to remain in a cool place until their re-potting in November.

As cool places are hard to find at present - the potting shed is like an oven -

I've put them in a box and keeping them in the air conditioned house -

just hoping there are no bugs creeping around of course!

Speaking of creeping creatures, while working on the two large hydrangeas

 bushes in front of the porch, a sudden movement startled me and Charlie

 gecko appeared clinging to a stem.  He seems to live in this area of the 

garden where I have placed a large shallow dish which I keep filled with 

water. . . . initially for the bees but perhaps also a good watering place for

 Charlie (who could be Charlene as I did see a very tiny gecko around also

 this summer!).

Last, but never least, another visitor was on the porch this morning, drinking from the fountain and peering in the dining room window with the usual sparkle in his/her eye. . . . . . and I'm sure awaiting a tip top acorn season ahead!!!

Say "Hi" to Charlie -

He was back yesterday. . . . . the little green gecko who seems to have taken up

 residence on and around the front porch. I think he lives in a large pot planted with ivy. 

It's snugged up against one of the huge hydrangea bushes under which I've placed

 a shallow 'bee bath'. He probably drinks and bathes there when the bees are off

 doing what honey bees do.

Why Charlie?  

Who knows. It was the first name that came to mind as I watched him move silently

 across the porch rail in the heat of the day.

The garden is quiet under the blazing sun, but I do hear baby birds - mostly cardinals

 who now are raising their second brood. The parents seem to keep them underneath

 the shrubs in the shade. 

Such sensible birds.

Today Bob has gone out early - 8:00 am - to mow the lawn as it will be another scorcher.

Thunder showers are possible this afternoon and evening but I'll be out there

  watering the pots this morning to keep things going until/if rains do arrive.

 

This will be a sandwiches and soup day. I'm just totally burned out regarding

cooking and need a break from the kitchen.

I'm thinking a picnic for the weekend. Just a little drive somewhere with

a change of scenery as we've not been anywhere for so long. Throw down a 

blanket, open the plastic bottle of rosé - actually French believe it or not - and

munch on something simple, cool and summery.

Do you have weekend plans?

Have a good time and stay safe.