Visions of Summer Times

Quiet observation of my gardens throughout the day and night reveals a world that many might not be unaware of, so I thought I’d share this peek at a typical, hot, humid, summer day in Southwest Wisconsin.

Pre-Dawn:

In the still-darkness, Robins yawn and stretch and begin their high-pitched, staccato chirping version of a rooster’s call-to-rise. The blue velvet of Night slowly softens into pastel indigo and violet, then smudges to a pink and salmon-orange blush across the eastern sky, painting the opening scenes of a new day.

Early Morning:

Sun blazes gold over the horizon, his rays commanding Morning Glories to raise their bugles in Reveille. Wine Cup Daylilies join the band. Hummingbirds zoom to the juice bar to break their fast, then join Bumblebees at the flower smorgasbord. Like falling leaves, raspberry-dipped House and Goldfinches flutter down from branches to birdfeeder. Chickadees “dee-dee-dee” for sunflower seeds. Flash of red and a whistle announces male Cardinal. Boisterous Blue Jay family, like an Air Force squadron, lands in formation atop the petrified log dressed with birdseed, momentarily startling the other birds away. Taking a cue from Chipmunk and Red Squirrel, Bunny scavenges for food kicked to the ground by birds. Robins bob for worms in dew-covered grass. Wren gears up to sing non-stop for hours. Sunlight shafting over the rooftop temporarily turns the leaves of the Giant Pussy Willow brilliant yellow.

Dawn

Grandpa Ott's heirloom morning glory

Sun breaking over roof-top turns Giant Pussy Willow leaves brilliant yellow

Gardens viewed from inside through patio screen, early morning

 Mid-Morning:

Four sibling Squirrels run nose-to-tail, playing choo-choo-train along the top rail of the plank fence, then switch in mid-stride to a lively version of leapfrog. Monarch wings in and lays her yellow prayers of immortality on the undersides of Milkweed leaves. Now Hummer sips from Coral Bells. Bumblebee methodically visits each open bud on the Beacon Silver. Metallic pinwheels whirl to life on a sudden sneeze of breeze, shooting glints of reflected sunlight across the yard. Hawk circles lazily overhead, buoyed on the thermals and silhouetted against a forming gang of Altocumulus Clouds floating even higher.

Shadow retreats as morning advances

Sweltering High Noon:

Flies whiz about as if driven insane by the heat. Nicotiana buds droop, bowing in deference to the sun and await twilight resurrection. The garden plants appear to go into suspended animation in the air’s heavy stillness.

High Noon in the garden

Gardens viewed from inside through patio screen, mid-afternoon

Late Afternoon:

The whirring drone of Locusts zuzzes the treetops, then suddenly goes silent. In the distance, with blades wielded against blades, mower kings shatter the silence, waging their assaults on lawn pawns. Jets’ contrails knife through the sky, stitching quilts from patches of blue and popping-up gray.

Garden, late afternoon

Garden, late afternoon, starting to cloud up

Early Evening:

With its flattened top, a Cumulonimbus Cloud steadily advances from out of the southwest…conjuring up memories of the “Jaws” theme song. A crack of lightning followed almost immediately by a booming roll of thunder barely precedes the sudden downpour. But just as rapidly as it arrived, the rain is over, the cloud sails slowly on to the northeast to bless others’ gardens with a goodnight kiss…but leaves behind a hint of a Rainbow hug. The sky begins to clear.

Evening rainbow after sudden summer downpour

Twilight:

Datura unfurls her clarion and with siren call, perfumes the air–the Sphinx Moth comes hither. Astral Artist brushes the sky orange and red with delight, whilst Wren mom tweets a lullaby to her nestlings and Robins chirp farewell to Ol’ Sol. Chipping Sparrow relishes a pre-bed bath. Hummingbird gulps bedtime sips from the pink Bee Balm and white Nicotiana, then passes the aerial baton to Fireflies–rising stars beginning their dance of romance in the company of Orbs. Solar lights glow on, turning the garden into a fairyland.

Datura flowers unfurled for evening

Orb poses at sunset

Evening orbs begin to gather

Orbs dance with Fireflies and me

Dark of Night:

Moths flutter round the porch light like gossips gathered at a water cooler. Crickets tune their wing-combs, and with tree frogs on vocals, play Bluegrass songs into the night. A Green Orb takes up a position over the roof like a sentinel standing guard…and all is well.

Green Orb sentinel over rooftop

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