Well hello there September, I knew you were coming. I’ve been feeling it for a few days if not weeks. Something different in the air. I feel it as I wander through my gardens, watering and plucking out weeds. The ground is changing, it sounds different as I walk. The first of the leaves have gotten a little crispy and my black walnut tree and sycamore have shed a few. They liter the still green grass. The air sounds different even, the insects have also changed.

Big red dahlia flower

The common sound of the cicada has faded. I always associate that sound with summer, but now perhaps they’ve almost all but went back into the ground.  As I walk and water, the katydids make their trill little sounds… so soft at first but then as I listen more it intensifies to almost deafening if you think about it much. To me, it is a signal that not much longer will I be enjoying my jungle around the house. It makes me a little sad.

morning glory vine Grandpa Ott growing up my greenhouse

I’m a summer girl. Admittedly, mostly because my love of gardening. I try not to complain of the heat, because I know that heat means happy plants, flowers and lots of new growth not to mention tomatoes and other yummy garden delights.

Although, my tomatoes were very sad this year. It was my own fault. Being gone on vacation during crucial times and trying a new raised bed system with a watering tank proved to be the demise of most of my tomato plants. Well that and this little guy along with about 100 of his brothers and sisters. Ah… the tomato hornworm. I even have an evil little mealybug thrown in there, too. *sigh* my tomtaoes were not to be this year.

tomato hornworm devouring my tomato plant!

It’s still too early to see the leaves change, but that is just around the corner. My black walnut tree over my greenhouse is loaded with fruit this year. Last year, there just wasn’t much. Soon, they’ll be plummeting down to the roof of my greenhouse with the force and sound of a canon! It’s enough to make you jump out of your skin.

My view from under Black walnut tree – awaiting the “fall”

Our cedar home with Obedient flowers in foreground

Today, some of the farmers are bringing in the corn. There was talk of pumpkin spice flavored things on the radio… oy vey. Fall is inevitable. Now I do love fall, don’t get me wrong. I just love having my plants and flowers all around outside and know fall brings that to an end. I do think I could be an island girl somewhere in the south pacific as long as I had rich and fertile land to grow my plants.

There truly was something different in the air today. It is cool. There was a big thunder boomer storm last night and everything feels well, different. Soon, I’ll change out my lilies for a black cat with a pumpkin. Halloween after all is the best thing about fall!

Garden flag with lilies on it will soon be changed to fall theme.

I got in my garden stroll for this morning so now it’s back into the art studio for me. I’ve got a show in just over two weeks (!). Here’s a little peek of my newest painting, a mysterious landscape and a little fox hiding in the weeds. It will be in my shop as soon as I get time to photograph it and do all the necessary steps.

a snippet of my latest painting Mysterious Morn’

Don’t forget there’s a full moon tonight! That’s probably why I’m feeling so melancholy about these changes. According to my handy Llewellyn’s Moon Sign Book, it’s a Pisces moon making things seem not quite what they are. Does the full moon affect you?

Learn more about me on the ‘About’ page in the menu at the top. I’m an artist – a painter mostly and an avid gardener. I paint a variety of subjects including birds, koi fish, my gardens, ponds and flowers as well as anything having to do with nature especially trees and tropical scenes. I also enjoy painting abstracts and have started created more and more of them. My most favorite thing to try to achieve in my painting is is mystery.

If you would like to keep up with what I’m doing, I have a newsletter e-mailed about once a month that gives you special status for invitations, birthday greeting and more. I’d love for you to add your email to my Friends and Collectors list!