Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves ~Humbert Wolfe
Last week, a misty morning turned the garden into a place of magic and mystery.
A few days later, a wild wind carried winter in its arms and spun the color from the trees into the air.
And then it snowed for two days.
In spite of the recent snow and freezing temperatures, the garden still offers moments of beauty. In a world that seems to have gone mad, the garden remains a place for quiet reflection, solace for frayed emotions and restless thoughts. Everywhere I look, there is richness of texture, of color, of light sifting through the trees, mist flowing down the hills. As I step on carpets of fallen oak leaves rimmed with morning frost, the world seems alive and abundant. A family of deer sidle by the fence, the red-tailed hawk whistles its distinctive cry, chipmunks scuttle under the stone walls, bluejays and cardinals drink from the birdbath. A few roses linger next to the russet leaves of autumn shrubs, the carpets of Ajuga glow with their dark winter foliage. Until the snows come in earnest, the garden is a cornucopia of life.
At no other time (than autumn) does the earth let itself be inhaled in one smell, the ripe earth ~Rilke
For my American friends, I wish you a joyful Thanksgiving; to all my friends and readers, I wish you a cornucopia of abundance in your lives.
There is a lie that acts like a virus within the mind of humanity. And that lie is, “There’s not enough good to go around. There’s lack and there’s limitation and there’s just not enough.” The truth is that there’s more than enough good to go around. There is more than enough creative ideas. There is more than enough power. There is more than enough love. There’s more than enough joy. All of this begins to come through a mind that is aware of its own infinite nature. ~Michael Beckwith
Here’s a link to Jude’s November garden challenge on trees and leaves, worth a visit, especially if you like woodlands and Shakespeare.
Unless otherwise indicated, all photos and text ©2016 Lynn Emberg Purse, All Rights Reserved
composerinthegarden 
I love your blog Lynn, and am so glad I found it. Your photos and music videos are inspirational. Do you compose the music yourself?
I feel the same way about yours, Denzil – we seem to share a similar view of life and nature, and you express your ideas SO well. Yes, I compose most of the music, unless otherwise noted. The blog is my way of connecting my two paths in life and they each feed the other.
Looking forward to reading and listening more of you!
Love the misty photos, your garden is such a delight in any weather.
Thank you, Heyjude, and I’m so glad you stopped by. I will set up a link to your November post – can’t get much more “leafy” than this 🙂
True! And thank you 🙂
You’re fortunate at this time of year to live in and near deciduous forests.
I looked up the Rilke and found it’s from “Letters on Cézanne.” Here’s the larger passage:
“At no other time (than autumn) does the earth let itself be inhaled in one smell, the ripe earth; in a smell that is in no way inferior to the smell of the sea, bitter where it borders on taste, and more honeysweet where you feel it touching the first sounds. Containing depth within itself, darkness, something of the grave almost.”
Steve, this is definitely the time of year to enjoy the woods, although the trees are mostly bare since that singular leaf fall I caught on video.
I love Rilke; I have books of his poetry and his “Letters to a Young Poet” and even a CD where his poetry was both read and set to music by the jazz vocal group New York Voices. Since finding that quote (thanks for including all of it), I have downloaded a Kindle sample of his Cezanne letters; I have always been fascinated by the cross-pollination of ideas and inspiration between the arts. And his words touch me deeply.
Speaking of this season and this poet: fifty years ago I took an elementary German course in college and memorized Rilke’s sonnet “Herbsttag,” which means “Autumn Day” (the first part of the German title is a cognate of our word “harvest”). I may have mentioned this before, but if not, here’s a link:
http://www.thebeckoning.com/poetry/rilke/rilke4.html
Yes, there has been a lot of cross-pollination in the arts. Think about Impressionist painting, poetry, and music.
Wonderful poem, Steve; I’ll have to bookmark that for next autumn.
It’s amazing what fog can do to a cluttered setting, isn’t it? Happy Thanksgiving, Lynn.
Fog is almost always the photographer’s friend, isn’t it? In this case, it helped me to see a familiar setting in a new light. Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Kerry – I look forward to having time to catch up with your photographic travels this weekend.
The majority of the time, yes, fog is an asset. There are some exceptions. Here’s a link to a piece I wrote on the subject more than five years ago:
https://lightscapesphotography.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/the-great-equalizer/
Kerry, it’s a great article. I remember it from when you originally posted it, but so much fun to go back and read it again. For any who see these comments, read Kerry’s post on fog and mist – invaluable!
Magical morning! Happy Thanksgiving
Thanks, Carol – same to you!
Fog and mist are so beautiful, as is November, when you think about it, and obviously you did. Lovely pictures and video, Lynn, and have a Happy one yourself!
Thanks, Lynn – yes, fog and mist are nature’s filters 🙂 Have a happy!
Breathtaking photographs – and the video and music transport me. Thank you for the gifts you share with us, Lynn. I will copy and tape the Beckwith quote to a wall where I see it daily. Words to remember in difficult times. Happy Thanksgiving!
Audrey, the Beckwith quote hit home with me too – words to remember indeed. Thank you for your kind words and a happy Thanksgiving to you too!
Beautiful, Lynn. Our gardens center us and provide moments of magic, joy and peace. In our family we talk about the leaves dancing as they twirl and swirl in the air! Ever so thankful for Nature, and your artistry…
Shelley, you are so right about our gardens centering us. So glad the leaves resonated with you – although I am ambivalent about the coming of winter, I always love the wildness of autumn.
Beautiful moments of video and music–leaves and wind lifting , spinning, being discharged. Your garden is always enchanting but this mist and snow make it more itself in new ways. The quotes were perfect. Revere poet Rilke… The last by M. Beckwith is much of what I felt today as I wrote my post–and I so agree. Blessings on you and yours.
What a lovely response, Cynthia – thank you. Rilke is one of my favorites, somehow he speaks what I feel but couldn’t express. I read your post and yes, it does resonate with Beckwith’s words. Blessings to you as well.
Wow … and them there leaves were a fallen! 🙂 …. but the misty pics are the ones to captured my attention. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Frank, it was the most spectacular leaf fall I’ve ever witnessed! The misty morning was truly gorgeous, very quiet too. Nature has been very interesting here this past week. Happy Thanksgiving to you; hope you have some good food and drink planned 🙂
Oh yes … just bottled a fresh batch of my first-ever cranberry-orangecello
Ooh, that sounds delicious AND healthy!
… and strong … but sweet.
I love your misty moments. I hope that you have a good Thanksgiving.
Thanks, tootle pedal; it was a magical morning!
A blessed Thanksgiving and sacred abundance to you as well, Lynn. Thank you for the beauty and gifts you offer us!
Kitty, I hope you have a day filled with joy and abundance; it is always wonderful to have you stop by. And hugs and kisses to your pups 🙂