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"Oh hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!"
by Robert Frost (1874-1963)
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Is there anything better to start the day than a stroll in the early morning sun...
"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny
spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant
an effect on the feelings, as now in October."
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)
Sacred bamboo - Nandina domestica,
an evergreen shrub,
by now partly still in flower,
partly developing its berries which will turn red later in November/December,
(still some left from last winter!)
grown in Chinese and Japanese gardens for centuries
"October-dress' of my Chinese Beauty, the tree peony
evergreen Fatsia Japonica
just started its flowering season
*
"The gilding of the Indian summer mellowed the pastures far and wide.
The russet woods stood ripe to be stripped,
but were yet full of leaf.
The purple of heath-bloom, faded but not withered,
tinged the hills....
Fieldhead gardens bore the seal of gentle decay;...
its time of flowers and even of fruit was over."
*
"In the garden, Autumn is the crowning glory of the year,
bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care and toil.
And at no season do we get such superb color effects as now"
*
It is somehow a miracle with the Hortensias:
this one is a white flowering one, turned into red this autumn,
while the Lace-caps are nearly white by now
although it has a very cool dark pink color from April until August,
and even when all their colors are faded in autumn,
they still stand proudly upright!
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Oh - the Virginia Creeper!
Every year I'm amazed again by this wonderful color palette...
From faded green....
...to nuances of
yellow....
beige and brown...
from light rosé...
...to pink
and...
bright red.
Living in colorful harmony with
Fatsia Japonica...
and an oak-leafed...
Hydrangea quercifolia
leaves like leather...
and also in all kind of color tones...
from pink to red and almost dark purple.
*
"The sweet calm sunshine of October, now
Warms the low spot; upon its grass mold
The purple leaf falls; the birchen bough
drops its bright spoil like arrow-heads of gold."
William Cullen Bryant, 1794-1878
'Sun-and-Shadow-Plays' with a tree peony and our small olive trees
*
Deep blue sky...
...reflected...
Yes, yes...
...all photos taken yesterday !
What are we up to ...?
A cat nap in full sun ?
much cooler here...
****
Light-and-Shadow-Plays in the evening sun
*
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It was one of those fine October days
free from summer's heat and haze
but not yet gripped by autumn chill.
It was one of those fine October days
when the sky's so clear....
....you can see the moon
through the atmosphere at midday.
It was one of those fine October days
when the trees sport yellow and red
instead of everyday summer green.
It was one of those fine October days
when one draws a deep breath
and is grateful
to be resident on Earth.
Richard Greene (1918-1985)
Bon Dimanche !
Karin!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Gorgeous! I adore the shots of your countryside, the fields, the trees, your home and pool...never a disappointment! Your eye for beauty always shines through your photos and with such a beautiful, historical home as a backdrop, I am in awe once again. The landscaping mixed with the walls and doors and shutters....texture and patina are wonderful...and that mirrored table is breath-taking. Your red berried plant that you call bamboo there looks like one we call Nandina here....It is amazing how our little spindly plant can hold such heavy berries...and the Pyracantha along your road is beautiful! I bet it is so pretty when in full red show!! You know I love the textiles and grain sacks...just amazing! I love your posts...always so much thought and effort....beautiful!!!
....and dear Friend....many, many thanks for suggesting others read my post on the Barn that tugs at my heart! I hope it touched others as it touches me! I just write about what comes to mind for the week...so you just never know...many blessings and thank you again for sharing my joy! M
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous photos and poetry to match, Karin. You have taken my breath away this morning and make me want to go outside for a stroll. This is such a beautiful time of year and your neighborhood is a setting for a movie. You should put them into a Picassa collage. I've been doing that with my photos from France. so Jenny
ReplyDeleteI feel as though I'm there with you! I'm doing a lot of sighing sitting here! I can feel the warmth and the pool looks so inviting! We have had a sunny day here but high and chilly winds....I've been out there mowing and have so many twigs and seeds in my hair! And Martha, I absolutely loved your barn post with wonderful words! I do hope it can be restored!
ReplyDelete♥from Oz,
Alaine
Karin, as usual your photos give me great pleasure and the accompanying poetry to this blog is delightful. I felt I was in the Périgord autumn instead of the Australian spring! I particularly loved the images that captured the magic of the Autumn light.
ReplyDeleteP.S. My daughter wants to kidnap your cat. Her beloved tabby cat has recently gone to heaven.
It really looks great, and you did go for quite a photo session, didn't you :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a day yesterday!!!
ReplyDeleteI love your stunning images!
Herbstbild
Dies ist ein Herbsttag, wie ich keinen sah!
Die Luft ist still, als atmete man kaum,
Und dennoch fallen raschelnd, fern und nah,
Die schönsten Früchte ab von jedem Baum.
O stört sie nicht, die Feier der Natur!
Dies ist die Lese, die sie selber hält,
Denn heute löst sich von den Zweigen nur,
Was vor dem milden Strahl der Sonne fällt.
Friedrich Hebbel
(1852)
Bon dimanche!
♥ Franka
Absolutely beautiful blog...from your newest follower. Robx
ReplyDeleteDear Karin, These are the most beautiful images! I can't pick a favorite. Love the colors and autumn light...all so very special. Thank you for sharing your beautiful world with us. Gina
ReplyDeleteSuch a joy to see your pictures, dear Karen!
ReplyDeletebeauty surrounds you...I really enjoy the photos you post and your blog :) Your are forever inspiring...
ReplyDeletehere in Vancouver, Canada I am still waiting for our leaves to turn...fall is finally starting, there is a coolness in the air and foggy mornings with the sun breaking through...I love the smell of fall - I could almost "smell" fall in your post today :)
Such beautiful images of Autumn.
ReplyDeleteIn the 6th picture down there is a hedge with red berries. In California my mother had such a hedge. It was called Pyracanthia. What is it called in France.
In the late Autumn the birds would gorge on the fermented berries, becoming drunk. They would stumble down the drive to the amusement of our family. Silly birds!
Karin your pomegranates and walnuts look wonderful! Oskar is so cute is he going for a walk with you? Or did he decide to go play among your zinnias? Karin your home looks like it contains so many wonderful treasures and you’re killing me here with these little peeks. My hydrangeas looked just like yours this morning just before I deadheaded them all, we’re getting ready for winter this weekend, last weekend and next weekend…ugh, it takes us a month and a half to get ready for winter. Thank you for taking us on a stroll with you and the beautiful poetry.
ReplyDeleteHello Karin
ReplyDeleteA truly outstanding post and the poetry and images provided the perfect little escape I was seeking this evening. I am going to return and savour poem and image
Have a wonderful week
Helen xx
Beautiful photos, Karin. And the poetry - I had never read the one by Robert Frost but I'll be going back to copy it into my book of quotations. I love its slow cadence and quiet beauty.
ReplyDeleteWe have Nandina in our yard. The deer don't like it! This morning we had our first frost, but my dahlias are still okay. Soon, though, they will be gone.
Karin, thank you so much for your kinds words on my blog. I am in awe of your post. Stunning photos and such romantic poetry- really captures the beauty of autumn. I am thrilled to have found you and am now following. . . I cannot wait to see what's next! ~Jen
ReplyDeleteYour home and gardens are just so extraordinary. Each vignette, each photo is stunning.
ReplyDeleteIt would make me so happy to experience that beauty every day! Thank you for sharing it with us.
Hi Karin. Loved the tour...such wonderful impressions of a Perigord Fall. Feel like was there for a visit. Just love your home...your yard...your cat! XOXO Trish
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your lovely comments! Four your thoughtful words and feelings.
ReplyDeleteFor the German poem from Franka which expressed perfect this Mid-Oktober day.
And I have to give a special merci to Trish who had a little trip to the blogworld and just wrote a beautiful post, the first one since early summer.
I am in awe of your beautiful photographs. You share so many with us. Since I can only return to Paris about once a year, I must take care to share only one or two a day. I so enjoyed your lovely offerings.
ReplyDeleteV