Clouds scudded across the sky this morning. Very little rain fell today, but more is predicted over the next few days. I spent the morning indoors, editing, and part of the afternoon in the garden. The blueberry bushes are fiery red. Soon there will be more red on the ground than on the bushes.
Tiny mushrooms are growing in the grass, many of them dotted around the lawn. How cute they are. I clipped away the grass surrounding them so I could take a proper photo. That inspired me to look for other small details in the garden.
Water droplets on a Lady's Mantle (alchemilla mollis) leaf.
Center of a Rudbeckia. Just a few yellow blooms remain.
A single bee hung around the Guara. I wonder why this one is still out collecting pollen when there are no others to be seen.
Mint is indomitable. We put up a small greenhouse in the spring. For the base, my husband used square concrete pads along with some old marble pieces from a fireplace. It's a lovely floor - easy to hose clean. But mint is springing up between the cracks. I don't really mind as it fills the greenhouse with a lovely fragrance on warm days. But I am going to have to get very stern with it for I don't need it taking over the entire place.
I don't think the invasive European Wall Lizards like the mint and stay out of the greenhouse. A reason to encourage its growth. These lizards have no natural predators and were introduced when someone who had a small zoo released them into the wild. They are becoming a plague.
A sample of what I clipped today to make a small bouquet for the house.
I recently saw a clip from a Doctor Who episode where he brought Vincent Van Gogh to the Musée d'Orsay where Van Gogh's works are displayed. The artist sold only one painting during his lifetime, and in this imaginary visit to the museum, he is in disbelief to see his works lining the walls. It's a touching episode. Van Gogh continued painting for as long as he lived, not knowing that his works would one day be so popular.
I've been thinking of his words, "It is looking at things for a long time that ripens you and gives you a deeper meaning." In all of our chasing novelty and the latest thing, perhaps taking a few moments to consider small details of nature, of home, of our loved ones, will give us greater satisfaction.
Nice pictures I love the one with the bee. When living in the countryside you appreciate better what’s around you. My favourite pastime is bird watching. Before we had a big vegetable garden but now I can’t do gardening anymore maybe when my husband will retire we can have a new one.
ReplyDeleteI so agree. So much beauty in the small details of life. Beautiful photos. I especially like your flowers arranged. Curious about the bee although we do get bumble bees throughout the year. Honey bees occasionally in the winter months if we have a sunny day. Your greenhouse must smell wonderful with that rogue mint. I did plant mint straight into my veg patch last year and I’m sure to regret it but I am now enjoying fresh mint year round. Before the pot variety shrivelled up in the winter. B x
ReplyDeleteLovely details you captured. Interesting words from Van Gogh.
ReplyDeleteThe details make life so interesting! Great post!
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures. I always admire raindrops on Lady's Mantle.
ReplyDeleteYou have a wonderful eye! I need to find that Doctor Who episode. It sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIt's focusing on the details of plants, animals, even the stones and soil that recentres us.
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