A few days ago a hard frost announced the arrival of the cold season.
Then yesterday it was much more like summer again, with a high temperature of 69F/21C.
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This gave a lonely calendula the chance to thrive for a few days.
Amazingly it had survived the frost. I didn’t even know of its existence but Grant had spotted its bright face one morning.
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He forgot to tell me about it until the next day when it had in fact survived a second frost.
A determined little plant. The flower beds failed miserably this year, afflicted by some sort of blight. After ripping out most of the dead greenery I’d half-heartedly scattered some seeds that I had left over, not really expecting results and I’d not paid any further attention.
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Just one more in this year of endless irregularities and surprises.
It’s why I am always willing to go on the road. There’s always something to see and I don’t take for granted that these trips will always be possible, so I make the most of them.
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These past few weeks have been extra busy and I suspect I may be suffering from eye strain but the countryside has become my drug of choice! I cannot stay away from it.
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The arrival of cooler weather is always a relief to me, yet this year I feel myself shivering and unable to get warm even though it is never cold in the house.
My feet are like ice even in summer, but I don’t usually feel chilled or find myself pining for those warm days that have gone.
The return of mild weather is strange but not unwelcome.
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If we have a prolonged period of below-freezing days this winter, I rather think I shall not be building ice castles, at least not to the extent I did last year when I all but perished my fingers laying new ice blocks every morning.
If there’s to be a new construction it will be a modest affair.
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Not that I won’t change my mind if or when the time comes, such is my privilege as a woman!
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We don’t usually get two frigid winters in succession. I don’t care for half-hearted winters that are afraid to commit themselves but on the other hand, the escalating cost of heating has me reviewing my preferences.
This morning I found more flowers that have survived, some poppies, sweet alyssum, a cornflower and a black-eyed Susan.
Whatever next?
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I have a gladiolus in flower! Whatever next indeed.
Lovely to see those deep blue skies, Carolyn. It has been raining here for 24 hours and thirty minutes. (And counting…) I am tired of listening to rrainfall already, and we have more to come according to the forecast.
Best wishes, Pete.
An unexpected and glorious burst of colour in the garden is one of nature’s greatest gifts.
Yes….. Winter is coming….. Our temperature is going down too…. I’m not ready for the cold 🙂 Your pictures are beautiful and very vivid. I love fall
It’s amazing that the beautiful yellow calendula survived the frost. I think you should come up with a new hobby to do in the cold Winter this year — one where you don’t have to expose your hands 😉. Here it feels like Summer has finally arrived. Yesterday and today it’s over 30°C/86°F and even warmer weather is forecasted for tomorrow … for me, that’s good news!
What a pretty flower, and robust it seems. I remember my mum (a Naturopath) used Calendula cream a lot for rash, wounds, skin irritations, and more.