Oh friends! It's been SO long since I was able to sit outside in our "Secret-Memorial Garden" and enjoy a beautiful cool autumn breeze from the garden swing. Yesterday afternoon and this morning have been just perfect for "porch sitting" or walking around the yard, enjoying these beautiful fall days here in north central Florida. I will just share pictures so you can see what I've been enjoying...
Anyway, here at this house we combined them and it is primarily a beautiful and peaceful place in our yard and along the shore of Still Waters Pond,
where I love to sit and enjoy the beauty of nature all around while I meditate on God's Word or read a book or magazine,
or write in my journal or just relax and watch the birds and /or the cat!
Blackie decided to come join me on this beautiful afternoon. I was happy for his company!
He was very aware of any other activity around us, like squirrels chattering in the treetops at our intrusion into their world, or the birds flitting to and fro, who kept a watchful eye on this intruder...
This morning I was thrilled to find so many kinds of flowers blooming all around us, even though we've been in a drought situation here for the last few months! I love these wild purple asters that pop out in the fall:
It's a very unusual plant that I haven't quite figured out yet.
Out in the front yard the geranium is blooming!
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I am so excited to see so many holly berries on the holly tree in the Memorial Garden this year! It hasn't had this many berries in several years. Click on this link for a post about when the Robins and Cedar Waxwings came and cleaned off every berry in just a couple of days! That was in November of 2020...5 years ago! It hasn't had that many berries since then, and so I am hoping that we will see those beautiful migrating birds come through here again this month like they did that year! I will definitely be watching for them, and hopefully will be here to take pictures when they come!
Blackie has been quite active lately, and one of his favorite places to go "sit" is up in the very large Live Oak Tree in our front yard. I happened to step outside on the front porch yesterday evening, and there he was. Of course, as soon as he saw me he started coming down to greet me...thinking I had food probably! LOL.
And here he comes! He's becoming quite the character. His buddy Sunshine has kind of traded places with him and seems to be gone most of the day lately, not showing up until supper time. Not sure where he goes, but at least he still comes home and stays a while and then leaves again for the night. Maybe he's found a warm hole to curl up in somewhere at night since it's been so chilly. Neither one of them are very interested in the nice warm beds Benton made for them. Time will tell...
While I was in the Secret Garden I thought I'd better check on our Gnome Family! Sadly, I have been neglecting them over the summer because it was just too hot to go out there and look at them! But here they are...a little dirty from all the debris under the tree, but still intact and happy as a family of Gnomes can be I guess.
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Speaking of Still Waters Pond...it's really the "Very Still NO Waters Pond" right now!
But even with all the dryness, there is still a lot of beauty and growth on and around the pond...
These beautiful wildflowers are blooming all around the shore:
Be sure to watch out for the bees! They are quite active!
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And just when I thought I was finished with these pictures, I looked outside and saw this beauty laying in the yard:
Isn't she/he? beautiful? Look at that raccoon tail! I believe this lovely cat belongs to someone else in the neighborhood...she took off as soon as I came out the door for a closer look. Hopefully she/he?? will go back home where he belongs. I'm not taking on any more boarders here on this porch!
He/she is really pretty, however...
Well, I hope you've enjoyed this little tour around our yard and gardens along the shore of Still Waters Pond...right now things are still beautiful, but eventually the autumn days will turn into winter, and things will begin to fade away until springtime...but here's some good news:
And even these words from the Book of Isaiah are a great comfort and encouragement to us in these days of uncertainty in our world...
Amen.
Be blessed my friends, and enjoy these autumn days while they last!!
I would love to come swing with you in your beautiful garden♥ So sad to see the pond gone and only dry ground in its place. Hopefully God will open the heavens soon and give you the rain you need. I loved seeing all the gnomes living around your trees.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is lovely and peaceful and certainly a good place to reflect. The late Fall flowers are so pretty. I just came in from walking around our property and enjoying a few blooms myself. They predict snow here this weekend so ours will soon be done.
ReplyDeleteThe pond is so dry! I hope you get some good rainstorms to fill it again.
I loved this tour of your garden and all the flowers blooming in the autumn, Pamela. But it hurts to see your pond so dry. Praying rain comes soon for all of you! And yes, that newcomer is a gorgeous cat and does look well cared for. I don't think either Blackie or Sunshine would enjoy sharing their food with him/her. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteIn all the years since you moved to Still Waters Pond, I don't remember it ever drying up like that. I do remember you paddling yourself in a canoe or kayak a few years ago, on a discovery trip. Now you can just walk it!! I guess this is an indicator of the drought conditions they say Florida has been having.
ReplyDeleteThat new kitty is really cute. I like the expression on his/her face. But like you, there are enough cats to satisfy now.
The florals are sooo pretty. They seem to really like our current cooler weather. .... wonder if they'll survive the much colder temps predicted for next week!
The pond has never been quite this dry, but it has had some dry spells...just never this long. But no, we cannot walk on it. The ground is still mucky if you step down on it, and you will sink up to your ankles or knees. The pond bottom is mostly made up of decayed lily pads. I haven't kayaked on it in a long time, mostly because of the couple of years I had so much shoulder/arm issues, but also because it is just too shallow. I hate to say that we will need a hurricane or two to get it back where it should be. (shhh, don't say that out loud!).
DeleteYou do have a lovely garden both secret and memorable. A good place to think with Blackie. So, he can climb that tree and get down all by himself. Your blooms are so colorful! Sorry about your pond - hopefully the rain will come soon.
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 40:31 is my very favorite verse. Thank you. I enjoyed the trip around the yard with you today and the visit to the memorial garden.
ReplyDeleteBlackie has really seemed to have adopted you as "his" person and the other cat is gorgeous.
Blessings and hugs,
Betsy
I am always so sad to see your pond all dry like that!! Have you ventured out on it? It would be interesting to see the 'island' and how it all goes together over there. Just crazy that the water is gone. So many birds relied on your pond for their winter residence. We do need rain!!
ReplyDeleteI have tried in the past to venture over to the island when the pond was a bit dry, but the ground is really just muck underneath the surface, due to the decaying of so many lily pads over the years. One would sink up to their ankles or maybe even knees if trying to walk on it, so I learned really quick not to even try again! The birds can walk on it, and maybe even a cat could, but the rest of us are just too heavy and even with high boots, it would not be a pleasant experience! Trust me...I did try it once! Never again! LOL. Right now I can see the two cranes, one Great Blue Heron, and a beautiful white egret out there on the one patch of water that's left! At least they are sharing the space with each other. That's nice!
DeleteI am so enjoying being outside again--it's been a long time!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, Pamela. And of course you know how much I love ❤️ 🐈 😻 🐈⬛️ cats.
ReplyDeleteWell you answered my question through your above comments. I was thinking about your pond last night while lying in bed - isn’t it crazy how we can think about a blog post of someone and have that burning desire to know the answer? I’d try and put on my dad’s old waders - and go out there. It intrigues me so much but better let someone know you’re out there or go with someone who can pull you out! lol. A drone camera would be the next best thing. With the rotting of the lily pads and vegetation, does it smell or attract flies?
ReplyDeleteWe’re entering our annual rainy season and it’s nice. A few days of rain then we have a few days to dry up and it goes back and forth.
Your garden is gorgeous- you’re obviously doing something right. That hibiscus 🌺 flower is so pretty. With the pond drying up and if it continues, it will be interesting to notice the difference ecosystem that will come. Perhaps different birds and wildflowers. Droughts can bring a rejuvenation to your pond with fresh water. We’ve seen that here at Lake Shasta, during our previous droughts. But thank God we haven’t had a drought now in 4-5 years now. We’re back to our normal weather pattern which I knew would happen. The good thing about getting older is being able to remember how the weather was when I was a kid - climate change and global warming - just a bunch of junk science to enslave people with fear and to make money! 💰
Okay, I’ll stop now. 🤐 Have a blessed day!
Regarding the pond...I have tried to walk on it in the past when it was almost this dry. I used knee high boots, but I was sinking into the muck and had to get out before it sucked me in. LOL. It does have a mucky smell when you are right there beside it, especially on a warm day. The only good side of this is the multitude of lily pads have died, and when the rains come it will be more clear of them for a while. I pray for rain, but please, Lord, no major hurricanes. I've not noticed any bad bugs or anything like that, except we still have some mosquitoes, but not bad. The Cranes, Great Blue Heron, and Great White Egrets are all enjoying the little bit of water that is left. I agree with you regarding climate change, etc. These changes come and go and come back again. THey are cyclical. This is the dryest we've seen it, but it has been pretty dry before in our 6 years here. It will fill up again when the rains decide to come back. I think it's actually healing the pond to be dried out.
DeleteYour yard is a flower bonanza. I love each and every one of them. I'm so glad you could finally get out there and enjoy the beauty. Your kitties are something else. Love Blackie in the oak tree and I do love the gnome in the tree knot. What a perfect place for him.
ReplyDeleteAww your still water pond is so dry. I do hope you get some replacement showers soon.
Have a great day
Hugs
Sue
I did enjoy your yard/garden/ big beautiful black cat/ I want the swing/ I want the roselle bush. wow on that one and all the yellow flowers. this is the perfect time of year to enjoy your garden and porch. less bugs, no humidity. hope you get some water in your pond soon... doesn't look like it but I am happy we did not get a hurricane this year
ReplyDeleteI know; didn't it seem Autumn would never come again? Even the wildflowers are rejoicing. I loved just sitting outside this morning and thanking God for His goodness. We're due for more rainfall this weekend, so I pray it makes its way towards your Still Waters Pond!
ReplyDeleteHi Pamela. I love your garden there by Still Waters Pond. I have not been by for a visit for a while, so it was good to catch up. I hope you have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDelete