You can walk in a dream while you are awake; just walk in the misty morning of a forest! ~Mehmet Murat Ildan
Yesterday was sunny and hot, a perfect August day. Then wild windy storms blew in, pouring rain over the hot earth – wisps of steam rose into the air as the storm moved on. This morning, I awoke to clouds of fog and mist and felt as if I were still in a dream. Angel and I took a short walk but turned home sooner than usual, concerned about safety on the foggy road. 
The rain amplified the green of grass and trees along the shady woodland edges.
The fallen tree still hanging over the lower garden has kept me from working there, but the fog softened the shaggy edges and lent the garden an abandoned romantic quality.
The Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ was bowed down by the heavy rains, making the path under it impassible. 
A spider wasted no time spinning a beautiful web on the deck. 
Even the brightly colored hillside garden shimmered softly, subdued in the misty light. 
Rudbeckia ‘Viette’s Little Suzy’ fell down the steps after the heavy rain but continues to bloom, unconcerned. 
I have spent much of this summer composing a cello concerto that will be premiered next year. There is more work to do, but as I walked through the mist this morning, I thought of Benjamin Britten’s description of the process. “Composing is like driving down a foggy road toward a house. Slowly you see more details of the house – the color of the slates and bricks, the shape of the windows. The notes are the bricks and the mortar of the house.” May you find clarity in the fog and enjoy the misty beauty of your dreams.
moonlight disappears down the hills
mountains vanish into fog
and I vanish into poetry ~Sanober Kahn
composerinthegarden 
Thanks for reminding me of a lush August day as we slide towards the end of October.
Thanks, Jason; yes, we are sliding rapidly here too. The flowers are coming to a close as the trees ramp up their color, but I’m already planning for next spring 🙂
I regret I didn’t paid much attention to what a cello can sound like until I stumbled on ‘The Piano Guys’. Their video ‘Beethoven’s 5 Secrets’ is haunting.
Just took a break from the cello concerto to find your message – I always love the Piano Guys videos, Margy. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Wow: a cello concerto. I’m impressed—and I haven’t heard any of the music yet.
Thanks , Steve. It’s a challenge, my head is in music world right now.
As always, Lynn, I love your photos. The spider web is exceptional!
So nice to see you here, Margie! Aren’t spider webs part of the Italian Christmas tradition? I have some sparkly spiderweb ornaments that I put on my tree each year 🙂
Beautiful words. Beautiful photos. I love the house analogy. Writing a novel can be like that too, I’ve found.
JessicaAnne, thank you for stopping by and commenting. I got a chance to visit your site – you are a wonderful writer, very thoughtful.
You are most welcome! What a joy it is to discover so many new interesting writing voices on WordPress, hmmm? Thank you for taking the time to come by my site. I really appreciate it. All the best to you.
Wow, absolutely a dream! Especially that spiderweb, how magical!
Kathrin — http://mycupofenglishtea.wordpress.com
Kathrin, thank you for stopping by and taking the time to comment! Yes, spiderwebs can be extraordinarily beautiful – I was lucky to catch this one. I hope you enjoy your time in London; England is a wonderful place for gardens 🙂
Thank you!! It really is, even in fall there are some amazing gardens here.
A garden looks quite different in fog and mist. Makes it more mysterious and almost feeling large. Gorgeous photos, Lynn.
Thank you, Otto – I love that barely visible sense of distance on foggy days, especially in the woods.
I love these atmospheric photos, especially the cobweb.
Thank you, Denzil – I was happy to capture the cobweb, as my dog walked blithely through it a few moments later. Temporal beauty.
Gardens are so beautiful in fog…and you captured the light perfectly. Brilliant quote from Benjamin Britten! I hope you will share the concerto with us when finished.
I love foggy days, Audrey. Yes, I will eventually begin sharing some moments from the concerto. It premieres in February, after which it will be recorded and eventually released. Exciting 🙂
Mist and Mystery seem so closely linked. There’s so much half-revealed beauty in the natural world, and so much more yet to discover and see. I’m enjoying reading more about the poetry of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and his desire to ‘awaken the mind’s attention…to the loveliness and the wonders of the world before us, an inexhaustible treasure.’ There are rich discoveries, like your spider’s web, waiting to catch our full attention.
Mist and Mystery, yes. The garden continues to reveal its treasures when I take the time to truly look and pay attention. I haven’t read Coleridge in a long time – his famous “water, water everywhere” lines come to mind. Your quote however, has piqued my interest in his other work. Thank you for stopping by, Richard, your comments always add immeasurably to the conversation.
As you know, Lynn, fog is a tremendous photographic asset to woodland settings–in both technical, aesthetic and emotional terms. You’ve used it to great effect in the images accompanying this entry.
Kerry, fog is definitely a friend to photographers. I particularly love it here because I can get shots of the garden without those pesky neighboring houses showing up in the background 🙂
Yup, eliminating background distractions is one big benefit; even light and exposure predictability are others.
The big “soft box” in the sky, Kerry – love it.
A beautifully poetic post, Lynn. I love the foggy images – there’s something so pleasing about seeing lots of detail in the leaves of a tree at the same time it is obscured by fog, like in the 1st & 2nd photos. That Rudbekia and the lichen-spotted stepping stone – magic! I love it. Gorgeous photo, that one!
I miss downpours – I know they’re destructive but the power is wonderful. We don’t get them here. Your garden is still beautiful, in fact, the blooms weighted with rain are even more romantic.
Benjamin Britten’s metaphor for composing sure makes sense. I’m glad you’re finding your way, and I look forward to hearing a bit of the concerto at some point.
Lynn, you make a great point about the details standing out against the muted shapes – it adds so much depth to the image. I love the fog and mist – it makes the world dreamy and quiet, just my taste 🙂
I love misty mornings (funnily enough, my post today is sun shining through mist) and your photos soften all the shapes and colors beautifully. Love the spider’s web. Hope you’ll post a clip of your cello concerto sometime!
Eliza, your mist photo was beautiful. I love misty mornings too – not only are the colors softened but so is the sound. Like being wrapped in a cloud 🙂
Lovely garden shots, indeed.
I was listening again to Elgar’s Cello Concerto recently and thinking what a wonderful leading instrument the cello made. I am sure you are going to do it full justice.
Love the Elgar concerto, colonialist – one of my favorites.
Such a garden of delights…your photos never fail to cheer and move me. I enjoyed your quotes, as well. The fog drapes so perfectly, doesn’t it? I am quite curious about your cello concerto–i played cello for many years as well as grew up in a musical (classical) family, most of whom have been professional musicians, including a cellist (sister) who played until 70… Best wishes as ever.
Thank you for your kind words, Cynthia. I forgot that you are a cellist! I will probably post something on the piece in the next month or so – I adore the instrument and love writing for it.
Look forward to this.
A delightful visit. I liked Britten’s comments and if your concerto matches the garden and your photographs, it will be very good
Thank you, tootlepedal – the garden always inspires my music.
The mist is lovely; I enjoy taking photos when its influence will affect them. Just beautiful, Lynn, and I’m excited to hear more about your concerto! I think Britten’s quote applies to all art; the discovery of one’s purpose in all creative endeavors seems to move from a degree of mist to one of clarity. 🙂 Blessings on your new week and all your amazing art!
Kitty, fog and mist are the photographer’s friend! I think you are right about the Britten quote – all creative endeavors follow that path of discovery and illumination. Always wonderful to have you stop by and leave your words of insight and encouragement 🙂