Hello,
I write cryptic notes to myself all the time. Unfortunately, I often forget what they mean. For instance, “waiting for an invitation” is scribbled on this week’s schedule. I have no idea what gem (or germ) of an idea I was grasping to retain. It’s now lost to time. This likely is a sign that I’ve been trying to cram too much into too little. Plotting future stories and projects plays havoc with my here-and-now. In turn it’s easy to forget where I am in the year. Until I step into the garden where months and days matter less than light and temperature.
Right now, the front garden is like a candy store. The golden leaves of the three katsura trees are wafting the scent of caramelized brown sugar, a delicious seasonal party tricks in my opinion. Nearby, a growing clump of bubblegum pink Colchicum are basking in the slanting afternoon light. And, like sprinkles on a cupcake, dainty sweet cyclamen are popping up in the most unlikely places, like between rocks and hidden deep beneath shrubs. This quixotic placement is due to a fascinating, mutually beneficial relationship between these fall blooming perennials and ants. Myrmecochory, loosely translated from ancient Greek means “choreography of ants.” In early summer, just as the plants are going dormant, dancing ants (a delightful image) harvest ripe cyclamen seed and carry them back to their underground nest where the seed coating provides nutritious fats and protein for the colony. It’s a winning symbiotic waltz: the ants get fed while the seed of the cyclamen is essentially planted at some distance from the parent plant, setting the stage for diverse and resilient future generations. Pretty cool, right?
I may not know what “waiting for an invitation” means, but my garden tells me fall has arrived. I’m so glad you’re here.
xo Lorene
Let’s Color
It’s Pansy season, let the celebration commence!
A golden last day of summer.
My heart swells when I’m with friends and someone says — you should paint this — because then I know that they’re looking at the world with the same eyes that I do.
Capturing the moody colors in this small bunch of Canadice grapes marks a magical day at Faraway Farm plotting creative dreams and planning for more.
Welcome to fall.
Flight lessons.
It’s all about that peek into the center which, if you think about it, is true for everything.
Here we go — that last golden flash before we slide into the Big Dark. Don’t miss it. Savor it. You’re going to need this moment. Actually, we need all of our moments.
Turning things over in my head, examining the days from every perspective, looking for the unexpected, and staying open to wonder.
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
In the store
Celebrate fall with some pink postcards, order with or without envelopes.