Tag Archives: seasons

nature, Photography

September 6’s Friday Fleurday

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I’ve been watching these panicle hydrangeas over the last couple of weeks as they have developed into incredibly lush and beautiful clusters of flowers.

The bush is about 2.5 metres tall (approx. 8ft) and covered in these rich pink and white panicle bundles. They are now reaching the height of their beauty.

Aren’t they lovely?

Happy Friday.

nature, Photography

August Sampler

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It’s September, and if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, for many there are mixed emotions involved. Some like the arrival of cooler weather and the beautiful autumn colour changes, while others will soon be missing the summer sun. But in the meantime, a look back at August – a very warm August!

August 1 sunset over Okanagan Lake. It was 39C (102F) at 8:44 p.m.
August hydrangea.
I’m so hot! A marmot tries an early morning cool-off before the temperature goes back up!
Mid-August; evenings were becoming a bit more comfortable for strolls along the lake.
Pond lilies are always a delight to see.
Skaha Lake at the south end of town. Penticton is one of two cities in the world that sit between two lakes. The other is Interlaken, Switzerland.
The cool of an early morning walk.

Although I’m sad to see summer coming to a close, I’m happy that I won’t have to be as strategic about choosing a cooler time of day for walks or hikes. As I get older I find that I’m becoming less comfortable with high temperatures. I overheat quickly and take longer to cool off – I’m thinking of walking around with cold packs in my pockets – but that soon won’t be much of an issue. Here, September is a gorgeous month; it’s really the best of both worlds.

I hope your September is enjoyable.

nature, Photography

Late Bloomers

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There are still lots of late bloomers around.

Coneflowers

They’re getting lost a bit in the abundant colour show that our trees and bushes are putting on right now, but they are still pretty and lovely to see.

Echinacea

These flowers were in a neighbourhood garden bed, many of which still look appealing despite their seasonal decline.

Coneflowers

Happy Wednesday.

Milestones, musings, nature, Photography

Good-bye August, Hello September

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Summer is in its last three weeks and autumn is on the doorstep, shifting from one foot to the other as it awaits its turn. I always find this time of year to be a turning point, not just seasonally but in so many other ways, as well. In the northern hemisphere, the slower pace of summer comes to a halt as students return to school and many people either recommence work after holidays or resume a more regular work tempo.

A nearby beach.

Personally, I am transitioning as well and will retire in two months. Normally I would be back in the north (an impossibility right now regardless, since most people have been evacuated due to the forest fires), firing on all cylinders and pushing the pace, but not this August. My career-driven life of many, many years is slowing down, and although I am considering some contract work, I feel both strange and elated.

Lush summer trees.

Strange because all this is different … and elated because all this is different. There’s the slow good-bye, the considerations of what comes next … many things to which I’ve been looking forward. Still, I feel a bit contradictory: like I should be much busier than I am, even though I don’t need to be and don’t want to be. It might take a little time to regroup and become this new life.

Late-summer anemones.

Like it is for everything and everyone else in the northern hemisphere right now, autumn is on my doorstep. It’s both a beautiful time and a sad time, but it’s also my time.