It's Beginning to Feel Like Fall Around Here!

 I'll set aside the issue of climate change and whether fall is actually arriving earlier than it used to, but there are definitely a lot of signs in the air that Fall will soon be here.  And since the title of this blog refers to changing seasons, I think it's useful to make note of these changes.

Among wildflowers I always associate Golden\mrod with the coming of fall.  It's not a popular 'weed', but it's bright yellow plumes brighten up every piece of 'waste' ground around town, and many ditches or fields outside of town.  I found this plant in a narrow strip of ignored soil between two parking lots downtown, blooming freshly among the fading Queen Anne's Lace and the Chicory.

But that's just the most obvious sign of fall in my books.  

The Blue Jays are screaming in the morning and the other day we saw some Canada Geese flying over in their typical 'V' formation.  Some birds have already left for warmer climes, and of course some will be with us all winter.  Birds like Chickadees and Juncos are moving south out of the boreal forest to join us during the winter months.

The mornings are noticeably cooler, with dew of the grass.  The harvest is well underway, as here we're picking tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.  On the farms the wheat harvest is already finished, and sweet corn is for sale at the farm gate.  We are past Lammas Day, the ancient celebration of the coming harvest.  

Just last night we were remarking on how the darkness was arriving earlier.  My own care-giving schedule means I get up and go to bed in the light all summer, but I get up and go to bed in the dark all winter.  It's quite the obivous change!  Here's to a nice sunny warm fall!

Monarchs!

 We have had Monarch butterflies fluttering around the garden all summer long, attracted we hope, to the numerous Milkweed plants that Mrs.F.G. has allowed to flourish.  I've never managed a good photograph of one; the one below is one of the worst photos of Monarchs I've ever taken.  But it proves they were here!

This photo was taken through the window and heavily cropped about five weeks ago.  The challenge of course is to find the eggs, always on the underside of Milkweeds leaves.  Monarchs will feed from any flower, but the caterpillars need Milkweed leaves.  

 

Eventually I did get to find a caterpillar myself, with those classic white, yellow and black bands.

And just a few days later, here it is, munching away.  However we have not found any chrysalis, nor have we seen fresh new butterflies fluttering around.  Never-the-less, we hope we contributing to their survival by having lots of Milkweed.

And here's one of my better photos from the past.

Around the Neighbourhood

 Yesterday I went for a ride around the neighbourhood, something I haven't done much of this year.  And I found a few interesting things.

This line of wildflowers replaces an old overgrown sidewalk which was no long being maintained, and extends into part of a ditch.  It's at least 100 feet long and 20 feet wide.  What a great space for pollinators!

It seemed to be mostly yellow flowers just now,, Grey-headed Coneflowers, ornamental daisies, and huge sunflowers of a sort, at least 10 feet high.

Around another block is this wacky garden of plants and ornaments.  They started by placing that line of rocks across the front in the early spring, and they've gradually been filling it in since.

There's a grey heron, a little doll, and an old hand-pump.

And finally, this home has always had a patch of Milkweed in one corner beside the driveway, but now the Milkweed occupy a significant corner of the front lawn.  I hope there are lots of Monarchs visiting!

Back to the Day Lilies

 Our season of beautiful Day Lilies is drawing to a close.  They've been brightening our garden since July 6th, but they will soon be over.  It always fascinates me how these flowers have so many buds, but each one only opens for a day.  They are certainly the highlight of the summer in our garden!

There are only four different ones still in bloom, and I think this purple one is the prettiest.

The last of the orange-flavoured flowers.

This very deep dark purple one is out the living room window, in a place where I can`t get close, but its dark colour is unique.

The flower that will go on the longest as I remember, is this one.  It may very well be the last one blooming.

Harvest Season

It's a wonderful time of year!  The veggie harvest is beginning to come in fast, and we can pick up amazing fruit at the market.  And it's jam-making season as a result!

These are our own tomatoes, ready to just pop in your mouth or slice for a sandwich.

Five dozen heads of garlic, fresh from the farm.  It is now hanging in the garage to dry out, and will be given to others or ground into garlic powder.

Fresh peaches from the farm market in Thornbury, grown in Niagara.

And the result, 48 hour later, 12 jars of peach jam!

And a sunflower bouquet to add some seasonal colouir.

The Boat Lift

On the opposite side of the inner harbour from the sailing school is Richardson's Marine, a place where you can get your boat repaired and lifted out of the water for storage, and lifted back into the water in the spring.  I've always been intrigued with this big piece of machinery.

The other day, after checking out the sailboats, I turned to head home and realized they were bringing out a boat to be lifted back into the water.  Watch how it's done!

Here comes the sailboat, held aloft in the big boat lift.  I always cut off the top of the mast 'cause I'm aiming at the sailboat itself!

They have to make a careful three-point turn to drive out on the docks where they will lover the boat.

If you compare pictures you can se that they've now lowered the boat into the water.

And now they've lowered the straps further and the sailboat can start moving forward.

Then they lift the straps up out of the water until the next lift is needed.

One of the staff hops into the small sailboat, starts the motor and moves the boat to a dock where it will await the owner.  Task complete!

Sail Georgian Bay

I've been struggling to publish this post for nearly a week, wanting to include a short video.  No matter what I did I couldn't get it to work, so I've finally given up, spurred on by a reader who hadn't seen a post in so long they were worried about me!  I really wish you could see the video, but you can't so you'll have to use your imagination.

Here in Meaford we have an outstanding sailing school.  It caters to anyone from age 7 - 18, with adult lessons as well.  They have their own base down in the harbour, and I often go down there to watch the young sailors at this time of year.

This is their collection of sailboats, large enough to hold two youngsters but small enough to be sailed by one person.  They use the school building for winter storage, and they sail not only in the inner harbour, but our in the bay as well.  One thing they have to do is swamp their little boat and pull it upright again; remarkable to watch.

These three photos are a small portion of what I saw one day last week.  The student sailors were zipping back and forth and making sharp turns   They were obviously practicing their tacking and short sharp turns, so they wouldn't run into each other.  The video I wish you could see had about 6 boats zipping to the right and left, going surprisingly fast.  I never saw one collision!.