SURPRISES AND MOSSY THINGS

The drought conditions in our area are affecting one of my favorite September blooms. I have been anticipating the Surprise Lilies……expecting them to start popping up....... here and there.....all around the yard. There are only a few so far, and only in the area where the sprinklers water. This is the only bloom actually open now.



They are strange little flowers, nothing but a stem with a pretty spidery flower atop. Their color is usually a little darker than this, but I think maybe the dry weather has affected that also.




  


The boards are a wonderful bright mossy green from being watered often.  As you know from previous posts, I am a fan of moss. It adds character and a sense of age and permanence. I found a couple more mossy things of a different kind. This bird house for instance, and this old board with a pretty gray-blue-green patina.






As of today, the weather shows possible triple digit temperatures again through Sunday, then a slight cool down, still with no rain in sight. The “surprise” in Surprise Lily this year may just be the fact there will be few to none!

Have a good weekend and I hope all your surprises are good ones.

A BOW IN THE SKY

Once again, I am in awe of the heavens!

One afternoon, as I was finishing my walk, I happened to look to the east and saw this beautiful rainbow. The sky was just amazing that day and this was such a special treat.

The power lines were unavoidable, but I just couldn't resist taking the pictures anyway.

Alas, no pot of gold was found at the end, but riches received in beauty far exceeded earthly treasures.

EFFECTS OF A DRY SUMMER

This is a Cypress tree root, commonly called a Cypress Knee for obvious reasons. These roots come up around the Cypress trees and we have an abundance of Knees here on the swamp which makes mowing and trimming around the lake a bit of a challenge at times. This summer has been especially hot and dry. 

When the water level falls this low, the lake or swamp bed is filled with all kinds of interesting plants and flowers. I thought you might be interested in seeing what is blooming in the Cypress Knee Swamp.

There are spots of this ground cover in places. It is a really pretty color and appears to be a succulent of some kind. I am sorry I can't name of any of these plants. I haven't found a good resource for identifying them.

Isn't this a pretty one?

I think this may be a Button Willow, but not sure.

This, of course, is the Cypress Tree.

This looks a little "other worldly" don't you think?

There are hundreds of these little lavender flowers everywhere.

These tiny stems of white flowers are on grasses and they are blooming in mass.

And there are several spots where this beautiful flower is blooming. I was unable to get a closer shot because I am terrified and I do mean terrified of snakes. I am not brave enough to wade through all the grasses and foliage covering the swamp to get better pictures. I can imagine sneeky snake in there somewhere, just waiting for me to take the wrong step!

(That is also probably why the photo quality of these pictures is not as sharp as I would like. I think my hand was a little more shaky than usual)

Hope you enjoyed a look at what's growing in the swamp!

We finally had a rainshower today, so it probably won't be long before the swamp begins to fill up with water and these blooms will be gone until next summer.

CHANGES

Muscadines Ripening

Black Gum Berries Forming

Cypress Trees Coloring

Leaves Falling

Acorns Maturing

It's finally beginning to look like Fall!

Have a good weekend!

THE SCENT OF COTTON

Several days ago, my sister asked me if I had been to “smell the cotton” yet. Only someone who grew up as the daughter of a cotton farmer would understand this question. Cotton does indeed have a scent. Hard to describe but immediately recognizable to someone who spent hours in the “cotton patch” as a child.  We took a drive to the cotton farms along the river this afternoon. Beginning with the bloom, here is one of the crops that was such a part of our childhood and one that helped make the South great.





Here is the cotton boll before beginning to open.



Here it’s just beginning to crack open revealing the cotton inside. When I was little, this is when we would begin to get the cotton pickin sacks, the cotton wagon and cotton scales ready! Not long before “cotton pickin” time would begin.  (Oh, did I mention that when I was a little girl, cotton pickers had two legs and two hands instead of a motor?)



Here we are with just a tad more white cotton showing, not quite ready for pickin yet.




Getting closer!



Here we go, ready for the pickers. Actually, the leaves will be dropped before picking begins. Some of the fields we saw had already been defoliated and were ready for the mechanical pickers.  I think the open cotton boll is really pretty with the pinwheel in the center showing.



Ok, I admit, I had to pick a couple just for old times sake.



There you are lilsis, bring back memories?  Remember potted meat sandwiches with Mama's fried chocolate pies for lunch in the cotton field? Playing in the cotton wagon when it was full of cotton and riding to the cotton gin with Daddy? That cotton scent brought back all those memories and more.

Thanks for reminding me to stop and “smell the cotton”.

A WALK

We are at last experiencing more pleasant weather! David & I are finally able to get back to walking in the evening, as a matter of fact, yesterday was downright enjoyable. We finished up about 7:30 p.m. and then treated ourselves to a veggie pizza. We ate at the picnic area next to the walking trail under a big oak tree with the breeze blowing and found ourselves lingering, reluctant to come home.


I took a few pictures from the walking path and home. Not much is blooming right now, but the trees are always interesting to me. These  lacy Mimosa leaves were striking against the sky.


The Mums are beginning to bloom. Hopefully, with more pleasant weather, I will have more energy to share from the Cypress Swamp. I am planning a trip to the country Sunday afternoon to check out the “scent of cotton” for lil sis!
Have a good weekend.

Oh Fall, Where Art Thou?

The temperature is still in the upper 90's in the evening......

And this is what my poor pot plant looked like when I come home from work after the heat and humidity of the day!

I know it is still the middle of August..... still summer....... however.......the days are getting shorter, the light is changing and there is somehow a whisper of cooler, crisper days to come.

The fall Clematis is blooming with wonderful perfume spilling out into the yard at eventide.

It's cool white blooms are so refreshing.

It has been a long, hot summer here in the South this year, but the seasons will change, and cooler weather will come and I am thankful for this sweet little Clematis reminder that Fall is just around the corner.

SATURDAY OUTING

 My daughter and I decided to take a day trip to the city of Monroe, La to visit the antique shops at the Cotton Port. We had never been there before and we wanted to see how the historical part of the city had been renovated and used. There are just a few shops in a 2 block area, but lots of antiques and collectables were still to be found. We spent a lot of time browsing and although temperatures were cooler (all the way down to 97!) we stayed indoors as much as possible. We both found a treasure to bring home, she a small Fire King glass refrigerator dish in red and me, this minnow bucket.

The color caught my eye first, and I am always attracted to "lake things". When I realized it was a minnow bucket, it came home with me. I am not sure what David will say, probably that he already has one, but I will explain this old fellow is for looks only.

 Even though our purchases were few, the time spent together was more precious and priceless than any antique in town. The only thing missing was a nice, cool rainshower....

I really am ready for fall!

This double brick wall caught my eye....interesting..

Hope your weekend was profitable and good as well.

Rusty Things

We finally had a nice rain shower yesterday, and the temperature is under a 100 for a change, but the humidity is a killer today! I spent the day indoors ….. mopping floors, cleaning ceiling fans, all the chores I have been putting off. I realized, I am not as young as I used to be!  I feel a little like that rusty fence post in the picture. It takes me longer, and the energy runs out before the chores. On the other hand, like the post, I may not be as bright and shiny as I used to be, I am still holding up my end of the fence. It is always a nice feeling of accomplishment to sit down with a cup of coffee in a nice clean house….

Wait, is that another dust bunny I see under the piano……

A Hot Time on the Swamp

The temperature today……103 at 5 p.m.!!