The days are shorter
September 26, 2006
Sunrise 7:52 a.m. Sunset 7:47 p.m.
It's official. The days are now shorter than the nights.
The beauty of autumn is nearly over, it was a beautiful fall this year, the leaves turn golden with a hint of orange, the Spruce trees were a nice contrast in dark green, and the low bush cranberries were a deep red on the ground. When the sun shone, the sky was turquoise, and in the last few weeks the mountains were yellows, greens and browns topped with the brightest white of snow.
Our lawn is still green, the birch trees are all but naked, their pretty yellow leaves scattered over the grass. The black asphalt of the driveway makes a dramatic canvas for the few gold leaves attached to it with rainwater.
My flower garden looks worn now. The few flowers that are left look a bit soggy. The California Poppies are still in bloom—they really like it up here. The wild flowers in a can were quite a surprise. I wasn’t expecting much, I scattered them over a mostly rocky surface, very little soil, next to the road. Little white flowers appeared first, then little pink flowers. Bright orange California poppies dotted the flowerbed followed closely by dark blue Batchelor’s Buttons. Pale pink poppies came up next and this week blood red poppies are blooming. The Fireweed, a natural flower up here, lasted just a few weeks, fuchsia blooms that begin at the base of a tall stalk, opening one by one until the entire stalk is a burst of color, then it all turns to cottony seeds that blow away.
I’m afraid my prediction may come true. The gladiolas that I planted in late spring will probably bloom about the time it snows. They all have shoots with flower pods now, but it isn’t getting warm enough during the day, and the garden is in the shade most of the day, with the sun moving to the southern skies. Next year I’ll have to plant a little earlier.
