Summer Sunsets

These are some of the photos I shot of a beautiful summer sunset down at Britannia Beach in Ottawa. That particular evening something nudged me in that direction and with only minutes to spare I raced down and caught the sun, just as it was going down.

Transformation

The sound of my childhood summers was the distinct humming of cicadas.  On the hottest of summer days, this sound was heard high in the trees that lined my street. How lucky to be able to catch this magical transformation as it took place this summer. Though I have heard cicadas, I hadn't seen one before, let alone been witness to this amazing part of its life cycle.

After having spent as much as 17 years underground, sucking sap from tree roots, cicadas emerge to shed their larvae casings. They climb a tree and latch on, in this case to a hanging wicker basket. The outer shell cracks open and they slowly merge, shedding their outer layer.

Having emerged a little further, the wings are still all folded up and can be seen as the two green protrusions at each side of the body. The cicada is hanging upside down with only a small portion left to be pulled from the casing.

A side view of the cicada, now fully emerged and wings beginning to unfurl. The green, by the way, was the bright shade it is in these photos.

The wings are now completely formed and have rotated to angle down. Total time elapsed, perhaps 20 minutes to half an hour. Eventually the cicada would have moved to the branches above to sing for a partner, but we left at this point, having invaded the poor creature's privacy long enough. The males attract a female by making the characteristic humming sound, while the females answer with a clicking sound, made by flipping their tails.

I'm including this photo of the cicada hanging from the wicker basket to give you a sense of the scale of this newly formed creature.

BBC Worldwide produced a time-lapse segment on the life cycle of the cicada with Sir David Attenborough that's available on YouTube.

Bundling the Beach

I knew it was only a matter of time before I did something with the beachcombed finds from various Vancouver beaches when I posted about them on August 26th. The string bags are great because they allow the air to circulate. I was so happy when I found a piece of crockery on the first two beaches but try as I might I didn’t find a piece on the third. If I’d just had a little more time I know that I would have found at least one piece! But I only had a half an hour as the sun was setting to conduct my search and sadly we were not able to return to Spanish Banks Beach on that particular trip. Using those finds that you bring back from trips around the house is a nice way to remember your travels and in this case those sunny summer days.

Reflections on Summer

My goodness, I have finally stopped long enough to realize that we’re in September already. Now how did that happen without my knowing? September is my favourite month. For one thing there is that whole nostalgic back-to-school feeling that lies beneath the surface as I sense the days shortening and the mornings getting a little nippy. I have experienced that shopping for school supplies rush firsthand again this year as both boys are still in school, albeit high school and this year... university. No matter how many years go by since I was enrolled in school, I still love the feeling of new beginnings, of the possibilities that a new school year brings.

It may have taken me all this time, but happily the epiphany was reached while there was still summer left on the calendar. With fall not scheduled until September 22 this year, lovely sunny summer days lie ahead to enjoy. So I’m grateful that my awareness has come in time to step back and be conscious of these last days of summer. I hope you will take a moment each day to find the pleasure in the warmth of the sun above and the grouond below your feet and of course that warmth that comes from all the lively sights and sounds of this spirited if sometimes lazy season.

The Taste of Elderflowers

Have you ever sampled the taste of elderflowers? I hadn’t, and I have been wanting to for a whole year, ever since I read a fascinating post at Ragged Roses, a blog from Sussex by the Sea. I gather that the flowers are ready for picking at the end of June each year and that’s when people go into elderflower production, much like we do here in strawberry season. But instead of jam, elderflowers are made into a cordial beverage.

Imagine my delight when I found an elderflower drink packaged for sale at IKEA. These elderflowers were grown in Sweden, not England, but close enough. So today when I arrived home from work on this afternoon filled with sunshine, I decided that this would be the perfect time to sample it.

To pay proper tribute to such a momentous occasion, I decided to serve the drinks on a wee table in the garden. To set the stage and heighten the enjoyment of my very first ever taste of elderflowers, I added a blue gingham cloth and some flowers to the scene. Since I didn’t have any elderflower blooms I made do with some wild Queen Anne’s lace which look similar, sort of. Finally, the moment had arrived. My youngest and I raised our glasses and took a sip. I found the taste to be sweet and delicate and very refreshing. My son, on the other hand, cringed and put down his glass. So there you have it, two different reactions. Why not try it for yourself?

You can read Ragged Roses' account of making elderflower cordial and view some lovely photos of the process at http://raggedroses.blogspot.com/2009/06/summer-in-glass.html

Westport Residents

For a change of scenery we took a short car trip to the small town of Westport today. It is a sweet wee place with a few intersecting streets lined with small businesses. These streets have that small-town feel and offer a variety of shops that invite visitors to stroll around, stopping in for a coffee here and a fresh baked goodie there, maybe an ice cream cone or some homemade fudge. And if you’re interested in art, jewellery, crafts, fashion or furntiure you'll spot those shops here too. Eventually you will find your way down to the harbor. Westport is located at the west end of the Upper Rideau Lake, at the head of the Rideau Canal. The harbor is a very picturesque spot, in close proximity to a spotless ladies public washroom where for $2.00 you can have a 6-minute shower (obviously provided for the many boat owners who dock at the public wharf.) Spotless washrooms are always appreciated when you're out for the day! There were three charming residents down by the wharf when we visited. And they obligingly posed for me by the most photogenic old shed in a lovely shade of blue.

Summertime

The first day of summer, and a lovely one it is too. If only all summer days could be as sunny with such a comfortable temperature as this one. In a lovely summer moment, I noticed the sun shining on the tenacious feverfew that had seeded itself between the patio stones under the bench and grown to such a size that it has poked its way through the slats.

Autumn Has Arrived!

Yesterday was the first day of fall. So I thought this photo with its gorgeous autumnal colours would be quite appropriate. Take note, however, that it is a photo of flowers not leaves. I am not quite ready to say good-bye to summer. Even as I type this, though, there are yellow leaves from the trees outside my window letting go and swirling to the ground.

September Blooms

September blooms! Speaking of lovely flower containers in yesterday's post reminded me of some of the gorgeous flower beds the city put in. Aren't these a spectacular assemblage? Towards the end of summer they have matured to fullsize and really fill up their space. What a great colour combination too!

No Reason to Panic!

Yikes, the temperature has really been taking a dive lately. I'm even back in long pants! Before we know it this blog is going to be forced inside for that season "that shall not be named" and there will be no more outdoor shots, or at least no more blooming outdoor flower shots for a long while. But let's not rush things. After all, it is only the last day of August, and there is still plenty of time to enjoy the outdoors. No reason to panic!

And my potted flowers are still going strong, mostly thanks to those vibrant pink geraniums. The pots didn't get to that exhuberant over-the-top flowering mass that I always dream of when I plant them up in the spring, but at least they look robust. And I'm quite pleased with how the pink blooms and black pots tie in with the pillows and lounge chairs. I remember how I was inspired to use this colour combination by the pots I saw on Crescent Street in Montreal that I featured in my post of May 19, 2009, "Crescent Street Chic".

Not the End of the World

I suppose it's not the end of the world that summer has only just arrived. Better late than never. And in true Canadian fashion we can now complain about the heat and humidity!

And this photo is not the end of the world either, despite the street sign, it's a road in Birmingham, England (taken one summer around 30 years ago!)

Where's Summer?

I can't believe we're heading to the halfway mark of July and still no sign of summer. Cool or downright cold days. Rainy days. Overcast days. Where is the heat of summer? I'm starting to feel a little like this guy!

My Own Backyard

Right now, my backyard (top photo) is not a pretty sight. But give it a few months and it will transform itself as it did last year (lower photos). What a difference a season makes. If only I could transform myself so dramatically in such a short time!

“When I was a young teenager and wanted to be a writer and couldn’t wait to leave home and go on the road in search of adventures to write about, my mother said, ‘There are stories in your own backyard.’

“‘Ha!’ I said. So I left home, went on the road, had lots of adventures, and eventually, 25 years later, the first book I published took place in the backyard of my childhood. Ha!”

(Dayal Kaur Khalsa, children’s book writer, on writing)

http://www.tundrabooks.com/authors/Khalsa_d.html

Looking out at my own backyard, I wonder what lessons it holds for me. What can I learn by paying close attention to it? What does my garden tell me about myself, for I have shaped it into what it has become. I am there in every leaf and bloom.

Summer Envy

It’s cold and damp and there was a dusting of snow overnight. Oh how I look forward to actually be using this straw bag once again. Its cheery blue and white floral interior beckons me, reminding me of blue skies and wispy clouds. I am imagining it filled with summer time paraphernalia: sunglasses, sunscreen, towel, novel for reading at the beach, bottle of lemonade, and perhaps a pad and pencils for quick sketching. Thinking warm sunny thoughts!