Ah, September, it’s the anchor between the heat of August and the chills of October. The sun rising at this time of year is beautiful with warm glows that glisten in the fog.
The apricot glow of the sunlight in our entryway entices me to grab my camera and head outside.
“The grass in the back field was almost waist high, and now there was goldenrod, that late-summer gossip which comes to tattle on autumn ever year. But there was no autumn in the air today; the sun was still all August, although calendar August was almost two weeks gone.”
Stephen King, Pet Sematary
Whether you love autumn or not, we have no choice but to embrace the ghosts of summer and relish in the arriving beauty of fall colors.
The zinnias have hung on for dear life, and a few beauties have burst into the colors of summer. The one on the far left is a soft peach color to me, definitely a combination of light pink and dark orange. Or maybe it’s just pink? What do you think?
The tree leaves are starting to fall to the ground.
In the front yard, the weeds and grasses of late summer collect dew in the morning.
We know that in September, we will wander through the warm winds of summer’s wreckage. We will welcome summer’s ghost.
Henry Rollins
The corn stalks around the edges of the field are turning golden colors. It’ll take until late October for them to completely turn brown.
The catchfly bloomed multiple times this summer. The scoundrels never touched it, so I’ve cultivated the seeds and plan to plant more next year.
I love the morning silhouettes of the BlackEyed Susans. A few have survived the scoundrels. You can see the chewed-off stalks next to the one with the blossom. Just so you know, I chased the bunny out of there. I’m sure I looked scary to him/her!
I had high hopes for the giant marigolds I planted in the flower beds at ground zero, but nope, the only place they grew to complete flowering plants is where they were elevated above the ground in my flagpole circle.
Look at how tall they are! Giants!
Compared to the standard mixed marigolds.
The blossoms are close to baseball size.
Spacious enough for a couple of spiders to do whatever it is they do.
Hugging, right?
We must never allow September 11th to become a time for protest and division. Instead, this day must remain a time for promoting peace and mutual respect.
Timothy Dolan
If you’ve been following my blog for years, you’ll remember that the flagpole circle is a memory garden for my mom. I remember September 11th, 2007, when I was sitting in the hospital with the neurologist looking at the scan of my mother’s brain. That stroke changed her life and erased the memories she ever had of 9/11. I remember, though, just like it was yesterday. I also remember how she loved her apricot-colored suit and how cute baby Copper looked in her arms.
September 11, 2001, revealed heroism in ordinary people who might have gone through their lives never called upon to demonstrate the extent of their courage.
Geraldine Brooks.
If only the memories of that September 21 years ago could whisper to us all – unite, don’t divide. A girl can dream…
Post Inspiration – Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “a word that contains a silent letter.” Choose a word that contains a silent letter and use it in your post, or write about words with silent letters in general. Enjoy! And Terri at Sunday Stills – Monthly Color Challenge: Apricot (light, peachy orange)
PS – When you think of the color apricot, do you think orange or peachy? What is your favorite word that has a silent letter in it? Did you see the orange eyes on the spiders? Creepy, eh? Do you like morning colors or late-day colors for photos?
Great pictures. I love fall. Even though it means winter is coming. But for now, we can revel in the gold light. 🙂
Hi Laurel, thanks for stopping by. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos. I’m with you on fall and the upcoming winter. Enjoy ever golden moment the fall brings your way. 🤗😁
So many lovely photos in this post, Shelley, God bless your mother. 🙏🏻 Baby Copper is so cute! It’s sad to know that summer is slipping away and to know the bitter winds are coming again. Your home is very beautiful, guys, I love the colors. I received a comment on my blog overnight that said in so many words “how could you leave it?” Meaning Michigan. Well, after 50+ years of bitter winters and not snowmobiling any longer, I’m happy to live where the winters are very mild. 😂 Enjoy the waning days of summer. ❤️
Aw, thanks, John! We appreciate your feedback and compliments. Michigan (except for the lake effect snows) is very similar to our area in Wisconsin. I know you know how bitter winter can feel. It makes sense why so many people from WI have a winter home down south or in Vegas where mild is the norm!
We intend to enjoy the warm days while we can. You too – I hope you get some rain that you need too. 🥰 I hope you have a great week!!!
Thanks! I woke to light rain this morning, every drop helps! Happy Monday.
I suppose the winds blowing west is why you get no lake effect squalls, they are intense!
Yes – I’ve been there when I was a child and you’re right, the winds are intense!
I see, those sqaulls are scary to drive through!
Yes, they are!
Hi
I visited your site. I can read your biography. Beautiful write up blog. You have awesome knowledge & experience. Beautiful photography. Wonderful photo. Very nice golden colour. So beautiful flowers, golden grass. I like. Where it is place? Your own yards area.
Hi, thank you for your feedback. Yes, it is my own yard. Thanks for visiting, happy blogging to you!
Thank you so much! Iam so glad.
Lovely post Shelley. Loved seeing baby Copper 🙂
Aw, thanks, Brian. Yes, Copper as a baby was so DARN cute, his expressions are what melted my heart to bring him into our family. My mom adored him too.
Perfect for an apricot challenge. I love September light too. And that’s a great picture of your mom and your pup. Good and sad memories all tangled up like an apricot sunrise.
Aw, thanks, Dawn. I appreciate your feedback.
Yes, good and sad memories mix in my life often. Walking out to catch the photo of the grass tugged at my heartstrings. I never let Copper go that far unless I was carrying him.
I thought about you this week when I was admiring the full-moon. I said to myself, “I’ll just watch it while I bet Dawn is figuring out how to get a great shot of the stars and the moon!” I smiled!
September surely is that transition month linking summer and autumn. For my area, I’ve thought for a long time that September is a very dry month, May be that hastens fall’s arrival. I also love the seed plumes of ornamental grasses! Cheers to colorful sunrises and sunsets anytime of the year!
Hi Frank, thank you for stopping by to share your thoughts. I like your thoughts on September’s weather hastens fall’s arrival. I can see that for sure. This year, our September has had many summer-like days and next week it’ll even bring humidity.
Thank you for the cheers and the warm welcome to your blog. I wish you many happy sunrises and sunsets too!
Hi Shelley, I didn’t see a link to my post and I happened to start reading and it’s about apricot! I’m on the road so I’ll be sure to add your link to my post later. I love your words about September being the anchor between August heat and October chill, so true! Now that I live in snow country this really makes sense. Sadly we have a lot of apricot skies because of wildfire smoke. A beautiful tribute to your dear mom. Lovely images to depict the color this month.
Hi Terri!! I had intentions of going back to link to your post, but we’re in a timezone difference, so I have to remember to go back. Then I got sick. And have been slow to get back to reading comments and replying. I appreciate you linking my post to yours – I loved the apricot colors you shared in your post. Thank you for hosting the challenge, much appreciated!!
No worries, Shelley! Hope you feel better!
Thank you for your understanding. Each day is a better day, so hopefully by Sunday I’ll be back in full-swing!
Hi Shelly, I ready your interview on Yvette’s blog. Great interview. Then when I came over to meet you, I find you are are posting Sunday Stills. How fun. I love apricot! I’m linking this post to Yvette’s link on Writer’s Quotes Wednesday so people can meet you.
Hi Marsha!! Thank you for the feedback. It was fun to join Yvette in the interview. She’s so kind and encouraging.
Yes, I started back up with Sunday Stills a few weeks ago. Terri is such a fun and kind host too. Thank you for the link to Yvette’s post. It’s fun to get to meet people that way here in the blogosphere. Wow – your website is great – so many opportunities to link up with others!! Nice!! I’m a quote fan too. 🙂
Thank you again for stopping by, much appreciated.
Hi Shelly, I just read your ‘mini interview’ on Yvette’s blog. I am excited to read more about you here – especially your posts on going gray. it is something I am considering, but can’t find the courage to do. Subscribing now.
Hi Suzanne, thank you for reading Yvette’s interview and for stopping by here to check out my posts. And for subscribing!! Thank you 🙂
I hope my posts on going gray are helpful. Do it when the time is right for you. That reminds me, I’m coming up on my 6th year anniversary. It may be time to recap what I’ve learned…
I look forward to checking out your blog too!!
Take care, be true to yourself, and enjoy the journey to gray (when you decide its what YOU want to do!).
Wonderful photos, Shelley. I love the flag circle, and the picture of your mom and baby Copper.
Thank you, Dan. Apricot is such a fun color to look for in photos. You and I like flags! The red, white, and blue against the sky is always eye-appealing. My mom would be glad to welcome you to the Copper admiration club. 🙂
I just read Terri’s apricot post and now yours Shelley. I love the color of apricot and the taste of them as well. I remembered my apricot summer suit hanging downstairs when I saw your mom’s suit. Look at Cooper in your mom’s arms – what a wonderful and poignant photo this is for you. Your Marigolds are gigantic – are they Garfield Marigolds? I grew them one year – they were fabulous looking and put the “squirt” Marigolds to shame!
Aw, thanks for reading both posts, Linda. I bet you look beautiful in your apricot suit. My mom loved that color and apricots too. Copper enjoyed how comfortable it was in her arms. Yes, I do treasure the photo.
They are gigantic marigolds – I don’t know what they are, I got the seeds from my FIL’s garden the year before. I’ve never heard of Garfield Marigolds. Maybe that’s what they are called. They do make the regular marigold look like squirts. LOL.
Apricot is a flattering shade. It is a beautiful photo. The Garfield Marigolds were named for Garfield the Cat. I got them one year – they were about a foot tall and looked good and yes, the smaller Marigolds looked like their growth was stunted. I planted the smaller ones around my lilies and hostas as the smell keeps away bunnies.
I thought it must’ve had to do with Garfield. My mom adored Garfield and when I look at the color of the giant marigolds, I did think of Garfield.
I wish the marigolds at ground level would’ve detered the scoundrels, the only marigolds that survived are the ones in planters above the ground.
When I bought my Garfield Marigolds, there was a plastic tag with Garfield’s picture on it and it said they were named for him, otherwise I would never have known. The scoundrels must have had plugged-up noses from allergies as those Marigolds stink! I had slugs eating the hostas and lilies as well.
I wonder if the place you bought them from was just being clever?
I would think the scoundrels do, but they don’t seem to be affected at all.
Slugs are just as damaging. Yuck.
That could have been Shelley – I was thinking it was a “Proven Winner” flower, but just Googled it – wow, it came out in 1988. The write-up from “The L.A. Times” explained in this paragraph:
******
Garfield, that furry fellow found regularly in View, has lent his name to one of the new flowers for 1988. Now the many fanciers of this cat can stick him on the window of their car (upside down seems to be the preferable pose), and also plant a Garfield marigold in their front yard.
According to the press release, it “matches Garfield’s exact shade of orange,” but don’t expect black stripes. If you saw the Rose Parade, these were the marigolds used to cover the Garfield float, and it took more than 100,000 flowers grown on 12 acres in California.
Garfield is a French-type marigold, which means it has smaller flowers but in more profusion, and it grows about 10 inches tall. It, like many of the new flowers for 1988, are only available by ordering from seed catalogues, in this case the catalogue of W. Atlee Burpee & Co., 80382 Burpee Building, Warminster, Pa. 18974. Like most seed catalogues, it is free.
THANK YOU for finding out the details and the history of the flowers. Mine are definitely not Garfield flowers, the color is close, but not like described. That’s so cool they were used to decorate a float in the Rose Parade. I could order some though… 😉
You’re welcome Shelley – I thought “surely I can find some info on the Garfield marigolds somewhere” and I did from 1988. It was nice when there wasn’t a paywall for every news story so I could copy and paste that paragraph. I’ll bet the Rose Parade was beautiful that year. Yes, if they are still available would be great, then start them inside to get a good start.
If anyone could find the info, it’d be you – you’re a great researcher!! 1988 was a good year – the year Mr. and I met 😉 I’d love to find some of the Garfield marigold seeds. I agree – start them in the winter inside so they’re hearty and ready for the spring. I think I’ll go with raised flower beds too!
Thank you for doing the research and for the ideas!
Well, thank you for the compliment Shelley – I knew it had to be a thing as I pictured Garfield in the display and likely bought them for that. Trying to find pictures of the Rose Bowl Parade with the Garfield Marigolds I was not so lucky as “The L.A. Times” has a paywall, even for a January 1988 article – oh well. Well you must get those seeds since 1988 was a lucky year for you both. The raised flower beds will keep your predators away and look good as well!
😍😊🥰