Late Summer Blooms with a bit of Musing

“Bloom as if you want to make the whole world beautiful.” 

~ Debasish Mridha

Have you have ever seriously wondered if you are a late bloomer in life? Everyone else, after high school or college, seemed to sally forth confidently racking up accomplishments, yet for others of us, life unfolded more slowly, less surely. To some people it might have looked like we were late to our callings and careers, but in truth, our seed packets -- unbeknownst to all but One -- were labeled: "Plant early in Spring. Will bloom mid- to late-summer or early fall. Tall and widespread once mature. Plant to the rear of the garden or in a spot of its own. Blossoms are profuse; stake if necessary."

Perhaps that's one reason why I love these late-in-summer charmers. The early spring and summer plants have peaked weeks earlier and many are all but bloomed off by now, but then come the yellow black-eyed Susan (we call them rudbeckia) and the purple cone-flowers, just coming into full bloom. For the last two months, these perennials have been quietly growing tall willowy stems, thick and strong, and developing tiny buds, the promise of dozens of bright petaled cheer-mongers to come.

And, now here they are ... ready for the grand display. How often I look forward to slipping out my front door and going back far enough away so as to get a more sweeping view. Two plants flank both sides of the bay window. When I bought those two perennials a few years ago, I never dreamed they'd get that tall or bushy. And, I certainly never dreamed that I'd find myself completely smitten by their bold beauty; I love to see them peeking in through the lace curtain of our living room window, swaying on a breeze or catching raindrops after the rain.

No fussing, no rushing, no thinking because the lilacs were out so much earlier, they too should be setting blossoms already. No, the pressure to begin blooming earlier does not exist -- smart flowers -- yet inch by inch with patience and forbearance they are eventually ready to take their place in the garden's parade of blooming cheerfulness. Not late, on time ... making a garden beautiful in their own way and season.

Just think, if everything in the garden came into bloom at the same time and then died back, how forlorn and empty would be our gardens the rest of the growing season. There are similar timings for our own gifts to come into their full blossom ... in the fullness of time ... in due season.

I remind myself, too, some plants seem to die back after blooming early, but if you pinch back the dead blossoms, the plants put everything into sending out a beautiful second flush of blossoms.

"Every flower blooms at a different pace.” 

Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem

"Lean towards the Light"

“You don’t have to remind a flower when its time to bloom is near;

it has been preparing for it all of its life.” 

~ Matshona Dhliwayo

I completely identify with the quote above, for I have finally realized that I have indeed been preparing all of my life for this season. Hoping I'm a wise flower and will know when it's time to burst into full bloom. A while back, I wrote down something I felt God whispering to me. I'd been thinking about turning 60 and how I felt it signaled a new season for me. I found those words because I wanted to share them today with you:

"This is your season. Flourish. Bloom.

Do the work you've been preparing for all your life.

An oak tree at 60 is still young, but it's no longer a sapling, green and immature.

You always felt you were a late-bloomer.

Yes, you were; your gifts needed to mature. Develop. Deepen. Emerge.

Daffodils are already spent in the autumn, so are the roses,

but the beautiful colourful leaves, the berries and rose hips are ripening,

including those Michaelmas daisies (not here but England).

This, My Child, is your season.

You've always loved Fall.

Gather the grapes.

Enjoy the dahlias.

Harvest the garden and the fields.

Take care of your body --

It will take you through this

season with ease and grace.

You don't need the strength you had at twenty.

You're not doing that work out there.

It is time to focus on your own life work.

You're an Autumn girl.

Autumn brings Colourful Beauty.

Harvest. Bounty. Food.

You've got a storehouse full.

You also have the grace, skill, stamina,

and ability to set it out to share with others.

Lean towards the Light."

  

This wasn't the post I planned when I first sat down to work on something this month, but it's what bubbled up as I started uploading the photos I wanted to use. I see more clearly than ever that I first had to live my life with all its experiences and life lessons before I could sit down and write from it. You may ask, how is it going? Slowly... one page at a time. Grace flows. Thankfully.   

Here's wishing you glimpses of heaven in unexpected places,

Brenda

x ♥ x