Photo Friday - END OF SUMMER

As I work knee deep in flora, snipping off dead blossoms from the abundance of perennials still  growing around me and gathering vegetables from the garden, I feel an urgency. 

Get things done.  Snip, trim, water and gather the bounty, go, go, go; get it done.  

I am never ready for the end of warm weather…not ever that I can remember.  

So there is always a bit melancholy  for me in the cooler evenings and shorter days.

Each year I take pictures of my yard in October & November to remind myself, yes, there is loveliness in autumn. 

But still.

And now 

as I look around me, I notice the same urgency in the bees buzzing around me.  

I am used to bees. 

In fact, I leave my herbs to flower out this time of year just for them.  

They are usually friendlier and a bit slower than they are today.  Now they are wild! All kinds of bees. Bees I have never seen before are under my arms, around my elbows, buzzing near my knees as I work.

We are the same, these bees and I - trying to get as much done as possible before the wind turns chilly and the rains come. 

 I am chuckling out loud as the bees, usually paying little attention to me, are now checking out my head and blouse.

 “No, I’m not what you want.”  

They are frantic.  Not just the usually gentle honey bees, but the Bumbles are faster and more irritable than usual too.  There are a few species I’ve never seen before.  I run for the camera.   Some black and white stipped ones.  

It seems they don’t like the end of warm days either.  

I know in a few weeks their fervor will end as they slow.  In fact, they will be moving very very slow - crawling instead of flying.  At least one or two Bumbles make their way into the house, confused-like. 

  I, like them,  slow down in cold weather.

I don’t want summer to end. 

  

 I’d like to hibernate - fall sleep until the warm weather & sunshine & flowers appear again. 

Here are some other images I captured today....holding on to summer..............

Allium

Oregano 'Kent Beauty'

Smoke bush

water skipper

                              So for now, I determine to enjoy  these warm days. 

                                  There is much to celebrate in the here and now.

               

`````
Late summer 
when the bees get dizzy
the heat is getting cooler
nights are getting longer

The patio lanterns
glow all evening
Kim Mitchell on the radio
us kissing on the lawn

Lawn chairs out
twigs pointing to the fire
marshmallows getting hotter
getting cozy moving closer

Laughing, telling stories
of the August adventures
and plans for September
as the fire slows its flickers

There stands us
a couple of summer romantics
holding hands – take it in
hoping summer never ends.    Sarah Cotnam