Thursday, November 01, 2007

Frost





This tidy remnant of the Dahlia garden is all that remained the day after I shot the flower photos below. We'd had our first frost and the insects that had loved the flowers as I, through late summer - we're hanging on among the frosty crystal.



One passes through the roses to get to the Dahlias.











The crystals were just melting from his fuzzy head. (Do click)






So as winter approaches - I'll find a perch to soak up some sun.




And though I may feel a bit like Miss Havershram looks.





I'll be hanging on.


And making little offerings to the bird gods. (Our newly arrived Red-breasted Nuthatches)



And as always - Looking Up.


Heading into November one can't help observing the little deaths as the sun moves south. Still, there's beauty in these departures.


Emily Dickinson wrote this poem about frost. It's an 'ouch' poem.

Apparently with no surprise,
To any happy flower,
The frost beheads it at its play,
In accidental power.
The blond assassin passes on.
The sun proceeds unmoved,
To measure off another day,
For an approving God.


_____________________________________________________________

24 comments:

Mary said...

Cathy,

"Ouch" is right. Our first frost took a bite this week. It hurt as I said farewell to the zinnias.

Reading this brilliant post and seeing your lovely photos doesn't make the arrival of winter seem so bad...

Thanks,
Mary

KGMom said...

Oh yes, Cathy--this is the bittersweet time of year--death, and life all in a cycle.

I always thought the Emily Dickinson poem captures perfectly the fact that nature is unmoved by the emotions we experience. Nature just is. . .it is we who give the cycle of life meaning.

During autumn, I always have the opening lines of Shakespeare's Sonnet 73 running through my brain: "That time of year thou mayest in me behold/when yellow leaves or none or few do hang. . ."

Cathy said...

Ah, Sweet Mary -
Come sit on my snowdrifts-against-the-window back porch in January. The arrival of winter is bad, but it's reluctance to go is worse ;0)

Dear Donna -
I'm on my way to 'google' that Shakespeare sonnet. Thank you so much for that lovely comment. Yes, we give the cycle the meaning. Yes.

threecollie said...

Oh, such glorious stuff..your photos I mean, not frost. That rose is simply stunning. Thanks for an uplift at the end of the day.

Cathy said...

Three Collie -
Now that's very sweet - I know your days can be very long and it pleases me to think I might have brightened one just a titch :0) Thank YOU.

Larry said...

You made the frost a thing of beauty.-While I was camping old Mr. Frost got to my habanero peppers.

Cathy said...

Larry,
Thank you :0)
Sorry about those peppers, fella :0(
Just what do you do with those yummies? Anything special?

Ruth said...

I love the macro shots! I think my favourite is the partial maple leaf in the grass, but I could change my mind in two seconds. I haven't heard the poem before but it is very appropriate. We cannot complain about fall coming in November.

LauraHinNJ said...

I don't think we've had a full frost here on the coast yet. The tropicals are looking a bit wilted, but nothing like those crispy roses.

Do hang on through the cold Cathy!

RuthieJ said...

A picture of frost on the bee! You're amazing Cathy. That was so cool.

And I need to know....did that red breasted nuthatch take a seed from your hand? I so want to try that with my little one who seems so brave.

Larry said...

(Cathy said-)Larry,
Thank you :0)
Sorry about those peppers, fella :0(
Just what do you do with those yummies? Anything special?

I pickle carrot sticks, make hot pepper paste, and give the rest away to people I know that go crazy over them.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful frost pictures and poem. I always love seeing what surprises you have for us!

Anvilcloud said...

There is much beauty in this season, and you have shared some of it with us. Just saw a gray nuthatch yesterday.

Anonymous said...

We have been getting many nights this week with frost! Love the photos!

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Each season brings beauty--this time, frost.
Your lovely pictures show how we can see the loveliness, if we look for it.

Pam said...

What lovely photos of the season. Our first frost was very late this year, but beautiful as always. I saved your picture of the frosted rose, it reminded me of the scene in Fantasia where the wee fairies are making everything sparkle with their frosty touch.

Bonita said...

I thoroughly enjoyed your frosty-headed bee. My, what surprises here.

We hiked up on Mt. Rainier, in the snow. Clouds passed through the trees, and there was a dead calm about the place. Fortunately, a little brook was nearby, gurgling, and adding music to the countryside.

Anonymous said...

Looks like your bugs got caught off guard! I don't remember seeing any here when we had our first hard frost.

Lovely poem, and it fits so well.

dmmgmfm said...

Wonderful photos Cathy, especially the one of you. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Hugs,
Laurie

burning silo said...

They're all beautiful photos, Cathy - especially the one of the thawing bee.

Anonymous said...

Wow, I just love these photos with the frost on your flowers! Although I bet the flowers don't love it! Also, I love the shot with the nuthatch!

Endment said...

Frost, first snow fluries, cold - gardens are rapidly going to sleep for the winter.
What beauty - the frost rim on the leaf and the rose
Another enjoyable photo essay from your blog - thanks

Carolyn Hietala said...

I especially appreciate the photo with the multitude of bees, busy on a single flower... and one in flight! When the timing is just right... wow ;0)

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

beautiful pictures. i loved them all. xoxo nita