The Garden

September has started off graciously warm. It's felt like borrowed time, not yet seeing the colors of fall or feeling the gusts of wind that often bring cooler weather. I love the warmth. It's presence is always accepted with open arms by me.

We've had a late summer. July brought forth what felt like a limited number of truly warm days, with august bringing a few more still.

I've not been out attempting to capture & showcase my experiences in nature as I often have over previous years. I've spent a few months not sharing so much.

I've instead spent moments in wonder and appreciation in the garden and on walks.

This spring I proceeded to plant another box of a variety of flowers in the patch I'd dug out and cleared last year for gardening. Last year I planted a very random variety of flowers, plants, and veggies within the patch. This year, between the new box of flower seeds and the seeds that spread naturally from last year, the flowers have taken over half the patch. Next year I imagine they'd cover the whole patch naturally when the seeds spread in the fall. I think that'd be beautiful. I also think I might need to move my current raspberry bush to make that happen.

Sadly no fruit from the raspberry this year. Strange, since I recall getting one or two berries from the plant last year. It could be early still. I seem to remember berries coming later in the season last year.

The flowers are bright little pieces of optimism throughout my day.

I love seeing them & knowing I am the reason they exist out there.

I've done my best to let them grow naturally and prosper from the ongoing rains we've received throughout the season. I've also grown a separate smaller flower patch on an upper tier not far from the original garden. It seems to be a bit dryer up there, maybe the slope is steeper, I'm not sure yet. I've taken my watering can up there many times over the past few months and given the flowers a summer drink. The beans also require close attention as the location and pots I planted them in don't soak up the rain when it comes down.

It's been a few weeks now, I've been eating beans off the prosperous plant. I am reminded of my youth and time overseas, eating food directly from where it is grown. It's such a pleasant feeling. They also taste wonderful.

It's been a beautiful change of scenery and source of relaxation in retrospective.

Below are some flowers from the garden.