Click on photos to see Valentine Creek today. Lark is secured to her mooring pending winter's blast - meantime little sparrows are rustling in the cattails, small schools of fish busy about life, and under the rising tide at the little beach, the sand shows prints of the determined feet of the Great Blue Heron who lives here.
Neglected all summer in a sunny corner, this humble plant responds again to indoor warmth and light with wild tender blooms ....
First real frost before sunny days ... marjoram claims front stage .... CLICK to view ...
Thanksgiving - 60 degrees warm sunshine ... nandina berries, pansies - and summer petunias still blooming and fragrant. Opened all the cottage windows wide ... breathe breathe - and grateful for today.
My morning walk is a mile round, turning left uphill from my cottage, winding around to arrive at the overlook, a hundred feet above the Severn Narrows, then down steps to a little beach, Whitney's Landing .... click to view ....
Rescued from the rain of Joaquin .... the sweet thornless rose blooming for the third time this summer .... the zinnias cheery after months of dry heat ....
Three years ago a friend gave me lycoris bulbs from her late father's garden ... they are starting to bloom now, surrounded by wild mint - so delicate and have their own subtle hint of perfume .... August heat yet morning peace ....
and this day is exquisite ... now if I could post for you the perfume, the dew, the clear air ....
Working on daffodil series for a month .... inhaling the golden yellow!
Sailing in the oceans of the world - Easter at last .... glorious wishes to all good friends .....
Christmas at the cottage in Arden ... thinking of all sailors at sea ....
Can you remember the scent of lemon verbena .... extraordinary and unique, released crushed as I gather the dried leaves ... I will have tisanes of vervaine ..and the pleasure of running my fingers through the gloriously scented leaves - until the delicate shrub revives outside in the sunshine and warm rains next May.
Mild southerly air on Valentine Creek. Sunday 30 November, 50 degrees Fahrenheit already at 10 am. An easy row around the creek - check Lark's moorings, cover .... so good to stretch, dip, pull, pause .... listen to faint bird calls ...and the splash and drip of the water, chuckling along Lark's sides .....
Click to view second photo. November 12th, warm breeze from southwest, and incredible sunshine as the sun's declination changes. Each day is so precious here in Arden.
Click to view photo gallery .... exquisite day - but time to row Lark's sails ashore and stow them in the Shed. Lark will stay on her moorings for the coming winter.
Click to view glorious October .....
To make - green tomato chutney and maybe a ketchup as well? Lots of tomato and basil in the freezer already .....