The early November garden—a
delicious mingling of late summer early winter glories...
The month where roses and the myriads of fallen leaves that cover the grounds like toasted sugar sprinkled on some magical giant cake of sorts, share the same place in a happy coexistence.
And it amazes me—this new rebirth
of rose bushes after that deep pruning of the end of September, when I thought they were done for the year. With the onset of cooler weathers and warm sunshine, leaves started to burst again, puffing up branches into bushy, healthy little trees, and some of them have been putting forth more roses; the last ones of the year, I suppose, to tease my heart and make me sing.
The Chicago Rose has been gifting me generously with precious, final glories of incredible shades... I
have never seen lovelier colors or anything as beautiful... my soul is a chickadee
on an autumnal November day...
And the butterfly bushes, although far from the true glories of their prime time are full again...
It is hard to believe I'm still
bringing in roses this late in the year.
November at the house in the roses was a cruel month for the gardener and rose lover where one day suddenly
you were awakened to the winter landscape on a wink of an eye... and how can I
forget those too early first snows of the beginning of November, already
recoiling me away from the garden until the following spring?... how very
miserable I felt then, and how I wished for an extended period of growth.
Now... what can I say about this precious,
glorious sun of the Novembers of the south?
I cannot love it more or feel more at home here...
Now that the woods are thinning
down, I can better listen to what's going on there... a little girl's voice brought
down by the wind from our neighbor on the other side of the woods down the
hill, the quieted cooing of pigeons in some unknown nest conveying imageries of
cozy, warm homes and then, there are those other sounds too, like the muffled sound
of the big maple leaves tumbling down from sleepy canopies... from branch to
branch, where sometimes they would rest for a while until the wind would bring
them down... and over there, the wee sounds of little creatures like baby cries, the
ferals or perhaps the sounds squirrels make?
Thrashers would also add their own crop of mysteries to the fine share of sounds coming from deep down the woods while they forage the grounds for food, thus awakening imagination and the possibility of things unknown. For I want to believe that those common sounds of the everyday are more than just what meets the ear, thus becoming fairy tales, and dreams in my mind... and the little girl's voice would be a ghost, dweller of the woods, and the thrashers some witch sweeping off the floors of her tiny shack, and my eyes would widen with expectancy, and my heart beat to the improbable rhythms of fantasy and dreams, while an increased sense of
awareness far above those of the common possesses me.
Few, if any, little details would
miss my notice... nothing can escape me then. I'm part of this micro-universe I walk.
I am all that I see and hear; all that flows to me from a thousand
sources...
Oh I wish...
...to see what I see and hear what I hear...
and see how wonderfully made you are...
Thank you for being here friend! Till next time!
Dearest Cielo, your roses continue to bring joy not just for you, but for us all. What a beautiful post and a feast for the eyes. Love, Mimi xxx
ReplyDeleteCielo, your roses afe lovely.. i too had a few new roses this year. It was a surprise.. I had baby roses and some small white roses with a touch of pink on them.... I'm glad you found your contenment in your new home now.. Blessings with love Janice
ReplyDeleteHello Cielo, I am also enjoying our Southern Fall. It is so nice to live where seasons overlap and there is always something blooming! I would like to know how you care for all of your cement statues. Do you paint them? What do you use to protect them from the seasons? Glaring hot Summer sun and the occasional ice or snow storm of the Winter is hard on them!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the walk through your gardens and the pictures that you share.
Hugs, Sandy
That is such a good question. I too worry about my garden statues, as some have already deteriorated, or broken (sad), but I really haven't done anything to protect them since we lived here. I googled a bit about this, and here's some great info I'll be looking into myself before winter arrives... good luck, and let me know how it went with your precious statues:
DeleteWax
Mother Nature wreaks havoc on outdoor decor, especially when consumers live in areas prone to harsh climate changes. This is especially true for statues that lack paint or the proper weatherproof protection. Coating statues with wax offers a high level of protection against water and rain. Car wax is an ideal choice, but other types of wax are also usable. Application is simple by rubbing the wax over the entire statue with a cloth or sponge, and then wiping away any excess residue.
Water Sealers
Water sealers also work well for concrete or masonry garden sculptures exposed to water. Water sealers come in many forms, including spray-on and paint varieties. Adding a thin layer often does the trick, and applying it once a year prolongs the life of the statue. When applying a sealer, users should wash the statue before beginning to remove any dirt and debris. They should also take care to seal the bottom, as it wears over time, especially when sitting on a damp surface. For statues that hold water, a heavy-duty water sealant is vital. When sealing birdbaths or fountains, the statue should dry completely before refilling it with water, or the sealant fails to stick properly. When sealing any item, it should dry in the sunshine before touching it, as this gives the sealant time to set and work effectively.
Covers
Some types of statues are susceptible to cracks when the weather turns cold or ice forms. Statues are even more prone to cracking when they have existing holes or breaks in the material. To prevent this issue, wrap the statues in canvas or burlap. Other breathable covers such as polypropylene sheets also keep the statues protected. When covers are not available, adding hay to the inside and around the outside prevents freezing.
Cielo
I'll be in touch and we will compare what works and what doesn't! I hate to lose any of them.
DeleteThank you for the research and suggestions.
Good luck to you!
Sandy
The ability of your words to entertain and transport is a true gift. You write from your heart and your heart beats with the rhythms of nature and the seasons.
ReplyDeleteAnyone one that comes to visit leaves with a joyous happy feeling. Thank you for sharing your lovely spirit and amazing gardens with s all.
Gorgeous photos...beautiful stories.
ReplyDelete