Thank you Sydney. A beautiful interlude. As Autumn brings a coolness here in Australia, it is a joy to have a moment to cherish Spring in Maine. Thank you.
Where we are we don't have fall colours so much, as we are surrounded by Eucalyptus forests....gum trees we call them. Now my neighbour (he is two miles away) would scoff at me and tell you much much more meticulously of the changes in the forest (Bush we call it) and the modulations in the birdsong. He is someone just like you who has a beautiful eye and heart for the details of nature. I have to confess that my life in big cities has not prepared me well for that kind of an eye. I notice the mist in the valley become more persistent at this time of year, preparing for the winter when it looks like an ocean. I notice the kangaroos checking out our paddocks as the grass in the valley stops growing and they venture a bit more to find some more sources. We mostly have wallabies up here (smaller versions of kangaroos). The smell of the bush is what catches me. As the hot summer days pass...which is a time when the smell of the gum trees and their oils have a rich Eucalyptus smell in the dusk, in Autumn there is a crisp clearness to the smells...still the background of the Eucalyptus oils, but more in line with the cooler days. Thanks Sydney for your beautiful eye for Mother Nature's gifts.
So fascinating, Ian! Your description of the smells reminded me of how the smell of the Colorado mountain forest in the summer, hot pine needles in that thin, rocky soil, was so distinct that I would still recognize it anywhere. And thank you for the photo of the view across the valley! You’re right, Substack doesn’t allow images attached in comments, so messages was the way to go :) It’s lovely to imagine the whole valley filling with mist until it looks like the sea. So wonderful, all the nuance and variation in these places we call home!
I’m so fascinated by that, too, Hannah! Spring has such a specific definition in each of our minds - but what a variety! I agree, that color combination of red blossoms and blue sky is just sublime :)
That’s so true, Jenny! I’m so glad all the snakes around here are non-venomous, because they absolutely are so cute then and I baby talk them all the time.🤣
Oh my gosh, yes! Same here, many a spider in our house gets relocated outside with friendly chat along the way. I'm always like, "Trust me, you're going to be sooo much happier out here!" The only thing I can't stand is being woken up by a spider crawling on me - the non-poisonous message does not translate to my sleeping brain and it's just a sheer-panic wakeup. 🤣
Over here in northern Vermont we feel the same slow unveiling. Almost like the best intention of appreciation is to enjoy the slowest of unveiling. Soon though, the branches will unfurl leaves - our red maple flowers began falling yesterday.
I feel the same way, Stacy! Yesterday, we were pulling out of our gravel drive, and it was entirely sprinkled with red blossoms like some fancy ceremony 😍 And, as you say, the leaves are now just starting to emerge, buds are getting plump everywhere, and you just know everything's about to take off into a mad rush. It's like taking a long, slow, savoring deep breath :)
Thank you Sydney. A beautiful interlude. As Autumn brings a coolness here in Australia, it is a joy to have a moment to cherish Spring in Maine. Thank you.
Thank you, Ian! What are some of the hallmarks of autumn there, besides the cooling temps? Do you have fall colors?
Where we are we don't have fall colours so much, as we are surrounded by Eucalyptus forests....gum trees we call them. Now my neighbour (he is two miles away) would scoff at me and tell you much much more meticulously of the changes in the forest (Bush we call it) and the modulations in the birdsong. He is someone just like you who has a beautiful eye and heart for the details of nature. I have to confess that my life in big cities has not prepared me well for that kind of an eye. I notice the mist in the valley become more persistent at this time of year, preparing for the winter when it looks like an ocean. I notice the kangaroos checking out our paddocks as the grass in the valley stops growing and they venture a bit more to find some more sources. We mostly have wallabies up here (smaller versions of kangaroos). The smell of the bush is what catches me. As the hot summer days pass...which is a time when the smell of the gum trees and their oils have a rich Eucalyptus smell in the dusk, in Autumn there is a crisp clearness to the smells...still the background of the Eucalyptus oils, but more in line with the cooler days. Thanks Sydney for your beautiful eye for Mother Nature's gifts.
So fascinating, Ian! Your description of the smells reminded me of how the smell of the Colorado mountain forest in the summer, hot pine needles in that thin, rocky soil, was so distinct that I would still recognize it anywhere. And thank you for the photo of the view across the valley! You’re right, Substack doesn’t allow images attached in comments, so messages was the way to go :) It’s lovely to imagine the whole valley filling with mist until it looks like the sea. So wonderful, all the nuance and variation in these places we call home!
Wonderful. Happy sigh. Slowly but surely. ☺️
Thank you, Beth, so true!💕
Spring in Maine really is special
💝
Fascinating how differently spring starts in different places... I do feel like the red blooms are absolutely appropriate!
I’m so fascinated by that, too, Hannah! Spring has such a specific definition in each of our minds - but what a variety! I agree, that color combination of red blossoms and blue sky is just sublime :)
Isn't it funny how non-venomous snakes are so freaking cute? They're like, I'm not a threat, let's just co-exist. 🥰
That’s so true, Jenny! I’m so glad all the snakes around here are non-venomous, because they absolutely are so cute then and I baby talk them all the time.🤣
💗 Same with our spiders! I used to be so scared of them, but knowing they could only nip me at worst, I’m always rescuing them or just saying hi. 🕷️
Oh my gosh, yes! Same here, many a spider in our house gets relocated outside with friendly chat along the way. I'm always like, "Trust me, you're going to be sooo much happier out here!" The only thing I can't stand is being woken up by a spider crawling on me - the non-poisonous message does not translate to my sleeping brain and it's just a sheer-panic wakeup. 🤣
Over here in northern Vermont we feel the same slow unveiling. Almost like the best intention of appreciation is to enjoy the slowest of unveiling. Soon though, the branches will unfurl leaves - our red maple flowers began falling yesterday.
I feel the same way, Stacy! Yesterday, we were pulling out of our gravel drive, and it was entirely sprinkled with red blossoms like some fancy ceremony 😍 And, as you say, the leaves are now just starting to emerge, buds are getting plump everywhere, and you just know everything's about to take off into a mad rush. It's like taking a long, slow, savoring deep breath :)