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| BARE BRANCHES AS WINTER STEPS TOWARDS US |
This last Friday, while outdoors doing some yard work, I glanced at the sky and thought that it looked like one that signaled the impending approach of winter. The trees were half bare and a heavy cold feeling was in the air.
Officially winter does not begin until December 21 with the winter solstice. Yet, in the UK and Ireland winter begins November 1st. They consider the winter solstice as midwinter. The shortest days and weakest solar radiation are during November, December and January therefore, it seems reasonable to use the November date.
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| LOOK CLOSELY TO SEE SEE THE "LIFT-OFF" OF THE BLACKBIRDS IN MY YARD |
About a week ago the yearly flocking of blackbirds paid their late autumn visit -- hanging around for about two days. I stepped outside to take a photo of their hundreds and hundreds -- to capture the density of their population. My appearance outside created a dynamic "whoosh" of nature -- synchronized instant take off and flight. They were beauty in motion with the sound of hundreds of wings flapping. It was a mixed flock and I believe there were even some flickers in the numbers.
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| GATHERED BUTTERNUT SQUASH |
Friday, I gathered the last harvest from my garden -- butternut squash. There were seven large ones that had hidden themselves in the weeds of my garden. They were beautiful and will surely be delicious, hopefully. I realize that they had been sitting on the vine for sometime.
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| PROLIFIC GOLDEN COSMOS -- STILL GOING STRONG |
The only other plants in the garden that were still producing were my golden cosmos. They had outperformed this year with stalks six feet tall and laden with glorious gold blooms.
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| BUTTERNUTS WAITING TO BE CLEANED UP FROM LYING IN THE GARDEN SOIL |
