A Visit To A Bit of Paradise

 

“Summer’s lease hath all too short a date.”

SONNET 18, WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

My goodness, I know the calendar says that we're nearly at the end of August, but surely it's too soon to be moving from summer to autumn already! As these last few days unfold, try as I might in my own mind, I can no longer hold onto the feeling that we are still in deep summer. There IS a definite shift in the air and in the lighting. And when it's not raining -- we've had a great deal over the summer -- the sun comes up of a morning casting its seasonal fiery orange across tree tops and roof ridges, hinting at the deep oranges, russets and golden leaves soon to follow suit.

Give me a few days and I won't mind at all that we're edging towards Autumn Equinox here in the northern hemisphere. After all, Autumn is my favourite time of year, as is Winter, Spring and Summer. 😊 I used to be able to say unequivocally that Autumn was my absolute favourite, but as I get older, I've come to truly love and appreciate each season in its turn, always sorry to see one season go even though I know I'll love the next one. So while we still have a few more days of summer, it makes me take out my gratitude 'butterfly net' to gather moments that still give me more time to sit on the deck, go for walks in the sunshine, listen to the kids still playing and hollering at the water park down the street. 

Yesterday was a proper sunny summer afternoon. Rick and I went to the greenhouse to look for fall bulbs -- he's been chomping at the bit the last week or so. It was a tad early as they were just getting in their shipments of bulbs. Our trip was not a waste as we took a stroll through their small but lovely botanic garden. So peaceful and soul-refreshing. We were the only ones there, except for the gardener who, though busy pruning junipers, stopped to chat awhile. The hydrangeas were especially lovely. And what a sweet pleasure to see the tiny apple orchard, several varieties laden with globes of red and golden fruit. Allowed to sample, I picked a Norland and enjoyed its sweet, juicy flesh.

Took some pictures as we walked -- with you in mind, of course. Isn't that why many of us take photos nowadays, to share them online? I wouldn't doubt if ninety percent of my photo-taking is with the idea of planning future blog and social media posts. And so, on this nearly last day of August, here are a few, just for you.......

"We might think we are nurturing our garden,
but of course it's our garden that is really nurturing us."
JENNY UGLOW

"Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful;

they are sunshine, food and medicine to the mind."

LUTHER BURBANK

And so our little meander winds around and comes to the end.

Much like the meandering of this post and it's done too.

"...beauty is the homeland of the heart.

When it can dwell in beauty

the heart is home."

JOHN O'DONOHUE

Wishing you a pleasant weekend and a spot o' loveliness
where your heart feels 'at home'.

Hugs,

Brenda

xox

Peace Rose: A Notecard Set

Some years ago now, a lovely blogging friend Vee hosted a Notecard Party. It was held once a month, and the rule, as I recall, was that participants were to create a blog post featuring a collection of four photos they'd published in past blog posts. It was such fun to search for photos that would make a compatible foursome. I always loved seeing the creativity of other bloggers. As things go, the Notecard Party was eventually disbanded. I was sorry to see it go.

For today, I'm resurrecting the Notecard idea. My mom's Peace Rose, which currently lives in our garden and is overwintered in our garage, has been in its glory this past week. Having bloomed in early June, Peace Rose took several weeks to regroup, and despite all the rain we've had this summer, she has given us another sublime showing over the last few days. Perfectly-formed buds opening into blossoms surrounded by glossy, bug-free leaves. 

Here in Alberta, we never take for granted any roses that make it through winter and start growing in people's gardens come spring. I never tire of watching roses in bloom, and I never tire of taking yet another photo, just in case I didn't get every angle.

The Peace rose, formally Rosa 'Madame A. Meilland', has large flowers of a light yellow to cream colour and are slightly flushed with crimson-pink at the petal edges. The rose over the decades has become a symbol of hope around the world. I think we all could use some hopeful thoughts for better days, in light of this past weekend's terrible events. If you haven't heard of Peace Rose's famous history, you are welcome to read about her HERE.

I dedicate this post to my mom, since it is her rose (we're happily the caretakers) and since Mom is a 'beautiful rose' in her own right. And now, in four delightful stages, I give you... 

Peace Rose: A Quartet

Where you tend a rose, my lad,

a thistle cannot grow.”

FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT

God gave us memories that we

might have roses in December.

J. M. BARRIE

The Rose is without an explanation;

She blooms, because She blooms.

ANGELUS SILESIUS

The rose is a rose from the time it is a seed to the time it dies.

Within it, at all times, it contains its whole potential.

It seems to be constantly in the process of change:

Yet at each state, at each moment, it is perfectly all right as it is.

PAULO COELHO

A rose must remain with the sun and the rain

or its lovely promise won’t come true.

RAY EVANS

* * *

Aren't you glad for eyes to see such exquisiteness? And what about noses to smell? Her fragrance is like a whisper -- one must lean in close to catch the scent -- the way a woman's perfume ought to be, not overwhelming, just a hint on the breeze . . . soft and sweet and intimate.

 

On that note, dear friends, I'm wishing you a beautiful day.

Hugs,

Brenda

xox