land of wonders ~ september 1/2

September brings all the feels. Joy for glimmers of Fall and memories relived. The good, the sad and yes even the ugly. Of course, focus is honed in on good memories! It doesn't stop the other feelings from wafting in, then quickly releasing kicking out.

With that in mind, it was interesting to come across a heart shape. It mirrored my heightened processing on a key annual date/s. I had not come across a heart in nature for a long time. 

There will always be a hole in my heart.
9.5.25

Early September, unique woodland wonders slow down. It is no longer Summer but it is also not Fall. When the woods offer the same ol' views step after step, my focus turns to home garden delights.

first sign of Fall Crocus
9.6.25

It has been a banner year for the few Dahlia tubers I overwinter. They are loving our weather this year and gone blooming crazy! The flowers are huge and plentiful this year.

one plant tuber (4-6 yrs old?) 

close-up

I recently mentioned growing lavender. Below is a small harvest that made a cute little upside down drying bouquet. It doesn't take much. I have lavender bouquets hanging inside multiple spots. Mostly in front of mirrors. Have I ever told you I adore mirrors? Well, I do. I know, it sounds narcissistic. Totally not why. In fact, I dislike seeing my old self in mirrors. It is all about light reflections, different perspectives and the energy mirrors offer!

Anywho, I am saving my dried lavender bouquets for a future wreath and/or sachet. I cannot believe how long lavender holds scent!

9.6.25

Of course land walks continue, regardless of conditions. You never know when some oddity will show itself. I almost accidentally squashed the guy below, while heading down to the woods. He looks like something right out of a tropical jungle! 

9.9.25

Google ID'ed the odd looking fellow as a Douglas-fir Tussock moth ~or~ White-marked Tussock moth. Whatever it is, it was on a mission to get to the tree line.

After watching it morph for many weeks over the Summer, I was so delighted to see bright orange coral make a brief reappearance. However, it grew much smaller and was gone overnight.

9.13.25

Our potted barn blooms are so lush this year! Underneath a giant mound of Impatiens are two pots and four planted boots. Much larger than the photo depicts. They almost touch the bottom of the barn window. Amazing what a few four packs of tiny plants can turn into.

Our barn columns are flanked with hanging baskets. I fill them with traditional purple Wave petunias started indoors from seed, and one added contrast scented plant. The big bushy plant underneath is one potted Salvia, for my Hummer friends. They get huge!

When one walks in pines the view is commonly green branches and brown trunks. It doesn't matter what month the calendar says it is, there is always color!

We do have some hardwoods growing among our pines. Most struggle for light. Imagine my surprise to see bright red so early. One bendy branch had turned completely red. Only one branch. The rest of the tree's leaves are still green.

Red Maple
9.13.25

I couldn't quite catch the brilliance with my phone that I was seeing. I decided to let the mosquitos attack what wasn't covered and ducked behind the branch. Sorry hands. 

It was behind the tree branch that I saw brighter light...

love shines bright
9.13.25