The "Carol's Lovely Garden" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Walking around our property, taking a few photos of our lovely garden we have behind our house in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  The air has a slight chill to it, but we haven't had a frost yet. A few of the trees have begun to display their Fall colors and the flowers in the garden have begun to wilt.  But, there is still life where the bright colors of summer were at one time.  The Marigolds and Mums haven't given up the ghost and the Coleus, Hibiscus and Night Lillies are still spreading their happiness around the back yard.  I found one final Hibiscus that is saying goodbye for the winter.  Winter brings a different dimension to the back yard.  Before long the snow will cover the ground and replenish the earth with it layer of frozen goodness.  And, within a few short months, the green of the spring flowers will poke their heads through the winter cover and life will begin once more in the garden behind our house.  Life never ceases to amaze me.  Just when I worry that all the flowers have died due to the tundra winter, up pops a green leaf and gives life once again to the landscape.  We love the year-round summer of the Caribbean islands and being able to enjoy the warmth of the crystal blue waters whenever we care to, but there is something magical about seeing life appear from what looks to be death, only to renew itself once again in the season called Spring.  So, for now, we must put aside our summer thoughts and prepare for the winter hours that can be spent by the fire.  Life's ever-changing cycle will continue long after we are gone.  So, enjoy the end of summer to it's fullest while you can, for winter will soon be upon us, until yet another summer will soon be on it's way to the lovely garden behind our house.  And then...you're going to have to look at all these pictures all over again! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - For all my readers living in a warmer climate...I sometimes wish I had the enjoyment of year round warm weather.  Especially if it is near a beach.  But...I don't have that to look forward to, but I do get to see life's cycle every year.  Life is good!

Carol surrounded by her leafy fiends. Click to enlarge.

The coleus and sweet potato vines are everywhere.

The banana tree is waiting for its turn to enter the
house for the winter.

The variety of grasses fill the banks behind our deck.

Sun penetrating the elephant ear leaf.

The Marigolds are not ready to give up their color.

The Mums fight for their life as the weather begins.

The red maple tree is still holding on to its seed pods.

This little guy is still waiting for a snack.

Another elephant ear pattern.

The blackberry orchid seeds haven't
dropped to earth yet.

This is the last of the hundreds of night-blooming Lillies
from the garden behind our house.

And, the many, many seed pods of the Lilly will
give us many more flowers next year.

The final day Lilly has opened.

My favorite, the Hibiscus has opened
it's final flower for the summer.