rainy garden
Sitting on the terrace, watching rain pour down, lightening flash and listening to Nina Simone. An hour ago I was swimming, laying in the sun and gardening in 90˚+ temps. Now, it is a cool 84˚ with the breeze from the rain bringing the smell of green and damp. It has been cooler lately, I think that fall is coming and with it the path into the western Caribbean is open to hurricanes. They are out there now, no idea yet if they will come this way but we are watching.
Also approaching is norte #1 bringing cooler and drier weather from the north. I find it amazing that #1 is here in August. Last year we got up to 40 or more by the end of the season, I missed #1 last year and perhaps this is why, it was so early I wasn’t paying attention.
I’m not ready for the heat to leave, I really am enjoying it. I don’t think I have to break out the flannels yet but there is a change in the air. So, for those of you who think we don’t have seasons down here because it never freezes and snows, it’s not true. The signs are there and you learn to feel them, more subtle than in the north and without the awful dread I used to feel as summer ended. Not that I ever lived where it snowed, I’m a weather wimp from California. Still, it got cold and dark and depressing in NoCal in the winter. I hated it. I don’t dread winter now, it’s cooler and can get cold at night but the sun shines and it isn’t dark at 4pm. It’s well worth giving up those long summer twilights to have more sun in the winter. I looked up our hours of sun and we go from a low of 11 hours in mid winter to a high of 13 hours in mid summer. I like those numbers, keeps me cheerful all year.
This is an Elkhorn fern that I got from a friend’s moving sale. I replanted it today. I broke off a small part to put under the bamboo, I want to see how it does in the ground. Looks kind of like it would make a good salad doesn’t it? I’m thankful to my friend Joyce on a garden forum for identifying it for me. It can live in soil or on a tree but can’t take a frost, adaptable and cold phobic… like me.
Polypodium polycarpon 'Grandiceps'
I love that fern – if you find yourself needing to break off another bit I’d be happy to take a try at it!
abrazos
Debi
Funny you mention the change in season – I smelled fall today. I was sweeping by the front door and the smell of leaves wafted in. Yup, it’s a little cooler, breezier, and more comfortable. I like the change in seasons too, but sometimes feel bad for tourists who get stuck with chilly wind and drizzle during the winter months (when we have all those darn nortes).
I love your banana tree!!
No cool breezes yet in Cancun… just muggy muggy muggy heat!!I do love winter here, though! Nice 70 – 80 degree weather.
The one thing I do miss about the US is the fall weather. Crisp, cool breezes and stunning colors. Haven’t seen that in 5 years.
Our Oregon summer is fading. I am ready for my return to Melaque. But I will need to wait for two more months.
What you probably don’t miss is that almost creepy time when leaves are dry and crunchy on the ground and the air remains incongruously hot and humid. Currently this is the weather in southeastern Ohio. Yuck!