“I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things.”
Isaiah 45:7 ESV
I ventured over the hill and near the river on Thursday and enjoyed this September sunrise. Our days late this week have been mostly in the low 90’s (96 yesterday!), but the current dry air really cools faster than humid nights, bringing pleasant mornings…like this one at 61 degrees. We invested $4.95 in an outdoor thermometer several years ago, so no doubt these numbers are correct!
As I turned to head home just after sunrise, I was able to say farewell to a setting, harvest moon. The next full moon will be the hunter’s moon! Seeing the harvest moon and hearing the distant sounds of large farming equipment set the tone for some of my thoughts and photos for today’s post! It is such a great time of year.
I finally made my move on pumpkins and this is the result of my primary run to hopefully at least get Pam off to a good start on all things autumn. I will likely venture out again for another load once decisions are finalized as to all the places where it is absolutely essential that pumpkins be located! My pumpkin advisor will let me know!
As harvest time arrives in farm communities everywhere, creation by Divine Design is also preparing for the end of the growing season. The principle and purpose is the same…provide food for the off season, and seeds for a new beginning. This alder appears to need a few more weeks to be ready!
The beans on this mimosa are aware September has arrived. These beans will hang on after all the leaves are gone, making this tree a bit ugly through the winter! A fun tree when I was a kid, but not necessarily a good choice to have in the landscape. Just the beans in this photo could represent over a hundred “little mimosas”!
These smooth or silky dogwood berries are slowly but surely getting the attention of wildlife. When they turn a little more I imagine the harvest will pick up! Our flowering dogwoods have red berries and are a wildlife delight also.
The boxelder is a maple that not everyone pays attention to, probably because it appears naturally mostly in wet areas, but is sometimes planted in lawns and landscapes. These winged ‘copters will spin their way to the ground a little later in the season. A lot of critters and birds will be pleased to assist with the harvest!
Some of you may remember the long white blooms on bottle brush buckeyes that I discovered for the first time back in the spring. I thought the name was very fitting. I dropped back by the same spot where numerous blooms were found to see what had developed. I don’t think the harvest will be so plentiful for that group of buckeyes. Out of all those blooms, I only found these 3 buckeyes. These are showing signs of turning, but they are here all by their lonesome!
Continuing the “harvest” theme…I enjoy riding through the countryside near home this time of year. Most corn fields are being harvested this month. I would be perfectly content riding all day on a corn picker taking in the sights and sounds in a setting like this, with the southern end of Lookout Mountain in the background.
I came across this field which had been picked and mown, except for a triangular section in the middle. I’m not sure why this part was left. An interesting task brought me down the dirt road and alongside this spot. I was on my way to place markers on cemetery property which we had recently chosen and acquired for Pam and me, along with additional plots for family. This corn field goes to the edge of the old country cemetery where we will be buried. It’s not far from home and just seemed right for us. Now I admit, it did feel a little strange placing our own foot markers and thinking about the reality of it all, but this is something we have talked about taking care of for years. While it is good to be prepared in this way, it is eternally more important to be prepared spiritually for such a time that is inevitable. With that said, we hope not to need these plots for a very long time!
If you are a steak lover, I recommend your local butcher, although this beefsteak plant is edible. An invader for sure around these parts in late summer and early fall. It is a pesky plant in the mint family. When I saw the foliage on the scorpion weed that was in last Sunday’s post, I knew it reminded me of another plant…and this is that plant! Both plants are native to Asia.
I spotted my first monarch of the fall season along the trail at the wildlife park about 10 miles from our house. It is common, for reasons unknown, to see monarchs here earlier than in our garden, sometimes by a couple of weeks. This is the only halfway decent photo I could come up with after patiently attempting for 20 minutes. Looks like a female to me. Your thoughts? I hope to get some better close-ups over the next few days, but there’s something about the first one!
Blue mistflower is plentiful this time of year. I see a lot of it, and might have skipped taking a photo…but I thought finding it backdropped by new blooms of the bright yellow of goldenrod was worth a second look!
This grass was absolutely glistening in the sun and caught my eye quickly as I rounded a curve along a walking path near the lake. I honestly don’t know for sure what to call it. One of the apps identified it as silvergrass, but it doesn’t really match any photos I could find. Another said it was a type of Indiangrass? It is well adapted to this low, wet area. Maybe some of you can identify? The plumes are very pretty.
Looking back 4 years, near Livingston, Montana. Seth and I spent a week camped about a half mile from here. To me, September is without a doubt the best month to spend time in the Rocky Mountain west.
I think it is time I started praying this mantis would stop following my every move in the cottage garden. I was dead-heading zinnias to keep them blooming a few more weeks and reached up to snip the purple one, but quickly pulled back. I am reasonably sure this is the same one from last week, only a few feet from where it was the other day! Giving me that look again!
I finally came across water hyacinth last week, the first I have photographed this season. It’s alway been a favorite, but this year, with low water levels and a very hot summer, blooming has been very limited. I only found a few in bloom and all were very close to the water’s edge.
There’s something magical about the angle of light around the autumnal equinox (today), including a week or two on either side. It is so noticeable in the late afternoon and early morning. September is a month that ushers in change, and the pace picks up as the month rolls by. We do have 5 Sundays in the month so a few more sunrises and sunsets before this one is history!
September bounds joyfully into the spotlight, taking center stage, rightfully boasting of bringing us equal moments of daylight and darkness, but soon thereafter must plan an exit, taking notice that October is warming up backstage.
~Butch Richardson
Have a blessed week!
”Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”.
Hebrews 13:8
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Ruthie Miller says
Butch, I love your parting words at the end. Clever and poetic. As always, wonderful pictures and imparting of your vast knowledge. How that praying mantis blends in!!
Maryann says
It is here! Happy first day of Fall everyone! The Great Horned Owl is making his presence known, hopefully the rabbits have fair warning. The corn season is ending, we noticed a lot of the fields have been cut. We did freeze some to have corn on the cob in cold weather. We planted it one year but it is much easier to buy it. Beautiful pictures as always Butch. God bless your day and week.
Mrs. White says
Such beautiful pictures! It is lovely to see the views in your area. It is also good to prepare spiritually for our eternal rest, as well as practically as you are doing. God bless!
Clara says
The moon shot is beautiful. I love the feathery red grass but don’t know the name of it either. The beefsteak plant has invaded all of our flower beds as a result of mulch we put down. It is truly a pain! We haven’t seen many butterflies recently but have seen hummingbirds. It’s finally fall but the temps need to fall in line! We’re still in the 90’s as well. Have a wonderful week. Clara ❤️
Carole @ From My Carolina Home says
You need to give that Mantis a name, it seems to like you. Great photos, so beautiful with the waxing or waning light in the clouds.
Kris @ Junk Chic Cottage says
Everything is beautiful. We use to play with the helicopters seeds when we were kiddos. Brings back some memories. Mr. Mantis loves living in your beautiful gardens. Here in the midwest we are in the 90’s but that is going to change today. Lots of rain for us and then cooler temps moving in. Miss Summer was hanging on to the very last day. Have a beautiful week ahead. Hugs. Kris
Shannon@Belle Bleu Interiors says
Good morning, Butch and Pam! Butch your parting quote is beautiful and so perfectly written I always enjoy all of the lovely photographs from nature that you share, The blue flowers against the golden rod are so pretty! Wishing you both a blessed Sunday and wonderful week ahead!
Jenna says
Happy official first day of Fall Pam and Butch! Beautiful photos of Mother Nature’s handy work! The Harvest Moon was so pretty this year. I love all your pumpkins, now you will really feel like it’s Fall. Hopefully temps will begin to cool off soon!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
We noticed that it was not as humid the last couple of days but our weather is still warm. The pumpkin advisor must have been thrilled with your primary run…a great selection.
Alice Genzlinger says
Love the country pictures of Gods wealth to be harvested. We received pictures this morning from the farm in SD of the crops. God has richly blessed the farmers there this year with a great yield. It started raining here last night and has rained all night. We are blessed as we’ve had none all summer . The mountains are getting snow! It’s chilly and the fireplace has been called into duty. That praying mantis knows you won’t harm him. He likes you! We have ash trees in the terrace behind the house and there are millions of seeds that have fallen in the lawn. Their seeds have a sharp end that sticks in the grass just waiting to grow into another tree. I pull everyone I see. We have to have the trees inoculated to keep them alive because of a disease. The moon was very bright here this week. He sends light and rivers of running water to help us through our journey. Praise Him🙏
PC says
I love the Royal Poinciana (a mimosa kin) and I am going to plant some of the seeds this year in a large pot. There is a big one down the road. I remember my mother cutting down a mimosa because it was so messy. Those pods would make a lot of the trees. I noticed the light change too and am enjoying it for the time it’s here.
jeanie says
Sending beautiful wishes for a lovely fall on this first day of the equinox. Every image is a poem.
Heritage Hall says
Each Sunday the number of Sunday followers of Butch the Pied Piper mounts as we follow the trail of discovery and imaginings that he sets us upon. What a special collection today….You have more than made up in the pumpkin dept. Pam must be delighted.. Looking forward to what she creates. Putting the closing of life in order is practical, although I was elated to read this morning that, “We are not going from the land of the living to the land of the dead, but are trying to get from the land of the dead to the land of the living” What a peaceful image your description of the country cemetery reflected and may it be held in abeyance a very, very long time before welcoming you. Autumn is
is fighting our desire for entry by putting us near 90 yesterday, but we shall
prevail by setting out the Fall decor. A blessed week to all.