September's Offering

After work a few days ago I walked the seven acre property and visited a few flowers, mostly cone flowers, to see how they were doing.  I have been harvesting the seeds for the last few weeks, and will be sewing them around the wooded perimeter of the property.   Let me introduce you. 

Harvest Home

The other night, the Sun Flower night, I opened my front door to an ominous and beautiful east. 

Which inspired a walk along my old farm road, camera in hand, to see what I could find.  The west was still bathed in golden light. 

I have no idea why the gourd is sticking straight up.  Perhaps a call to all neighbors?  "Take what you want!"

I adore this view. 

It's time to be deadheading all the flowers, and we must not forget to deadhead ourselves if need be.  My best friend in D.C. told me that instead of doing homework she went and got a hair cut.  I thought that was just what I needed, too.  Here you go, Rose.  

~ Red Clover 

The Death of Phaethon

Helios, the Sun God, guided the sun through the sky with his flaming chariot and winged horses.  His mortal son Phaethon asked Helios to grant him a favor, to prove his parentage.   After the promise was given the boy asked if he could steer his father's chariot the following day.  Helios pleaded with his son to reconsider saying that not even Zeus would dare, but to no avail.  

Helios anointed his son with oils, as a protection, and asked the boy to keep the winged steads on their path.  "Phaethon, please change your mind!"  He begged, but Phaethon would not, and guided the chariot into the sky.  Recognizing that inexperienced hands were at the reigns the horses deviated from their course, the seas boiled, the land was scorched.  The mighty horses pulled up, and a freeze covered the land with ice.  The danger of the situation caused those on earth to tremble.  Zeus, seeing no other way to prevent more havoc threw a thunderbolt down from Mt. Olympus and Phaethon's charred body fell from the heavens, into a river below.  

 Helios mourned greatly the death of his son, and only after much persuasion did he take the reigns of the sun chariot, bringing the world out of darkness.  All day long his tears fell to the earth, and where each tear fell a sunflower grew that followed the sun chariot across the sky.   Sunflowers still follow Helios across the sky, mourning with the father for the loss of his son.

These sunflowers looked so sad on this evening.  It reminded me of Phaethon.

~ Red Clover

In Great Anticipation

Last night as I was going to bed I knew that today would be a climax of sorts.  I was right.  My head feels completely penetrated now, and I believe I sound funny.   All of this points towards me being saturated with cold.  Blah.  I hope it passes quickly, and is gone in a day and a half.  I guess I need to go to bed early tonight, tomorrow night, and every night thereafter.   

There is a cool freshness as the end of summer anticipates Autumn.  Fall is my favorite season.   I adore this time of year, and I want a beautiful, long, golden fall.  My hope is to post gorgeous pictures of all things Autumn throughout the season. 

Up at Rivendell there are three new roses to be planted today!  The terrace garden has been beautiful,  and the roses did quite well.  I believe being a fall gardener will suite my tastes.  The weeding will slow down a touch, and there will be many projects to work on.  Someday when I have my own greenhouse...sigh. 

Here are a few pictures I took yesterday of a few more flowers in my Red Clover garden. 

Red Clover's August Garden

This morning I looked out the eastern window to see my porch flooded with sunlight.  Something caught my eye and I ran into the bedroom, dragged Kip out of bed, and made him follow me out the door!  My Heavenly Blue morning glory had bloomed!  

Here are some pictures I took throughout August up to this morning (Happy Labor Day!).  I hope you enjoy, and I hope you will still be coming around even though I've been absent.  I began my senior year @ "university", am still the gardener @ Rivendell, and am tutoring a few teenagers in Foster Care.  Life is busy!  It's such a beautiful morning, and the rocky mountains are conversing with a sky as blue as my morning glories.  Wish you were all here!  We would make you a fresh peach and strawberry smoothie.

Heavenly Blue Morning Glory

Black-Eyed Susan Vine

My landlords finished their deck, which really gives a great "outdoor room feel".  I like it.  

Scarlet O'hara morning glory

Black Dahlias! 

My rose has experienced a rebirth!  

Dried Allium stems for texture...

Chocolate cosmos!  Deep burgundy and smells just like chocolate!