Walking Iten's Acres: Saturdays at the Park August 16, 2014

School days mean that I have to invest a whole week's worth of wandering The Acres into my Saturdays. The sacrifices an old man must make.
It was a dewy morning. Boots were soaked before I got far on my meanderings. The wild area is still mostly greens--love the greens, with tall sprinkles of yellow clover. The lobelia are starting to bloom--spires of blue are on the way. And it won't be too long until the goldenrod takes over, and the wild area turns into a sea of yellow to be followed soon after by a sea of white and purple asters. As gorgeous as the wild area is all year, autumn reigns. The pink obedient plants are reaching for the sky as well. Every year more of them. Beauties.
The stars elsewhere are the cousins hibiscus and rose of Sharon. (And the phlox are ubiquitous, as well; bumble bee and hummingbird fast food.) I don't know who Sharon was but she must have been lovely. Miniature hibiscus. I have about forty or so of the "regular" hibiscus--as if they could ever be called "regular." Both sides of the front of the property are loaded--whites, pinks, reds, plums, all kinds of colors. Bed number two by the old Scarlett pine has fifteen or twenty all by itself--mostly whites with a few shades of pink Others are scattered throughout the front of The Acres, and one even handles the competition in the wild area with aplomb. And I never knew they were such spreaders. To be honest, I never even knew they could thrive outside in northern climates until I moved onto The Acres and became a part time resident at Oakland Park Nursery.
I had a nice chat with neighbor Dennis today as well. Bonnie has been missed. I still keep expecting to see her as I wander. Gus and the little hound join me on occasion--but they are not Bonnie. I also managed to Feed the Swallows this afternoon. Skies were gray, a soft misty rain for most of the two hours. I loved it. The meadow looks like a park again. Forced myself to walk back through the area and admire the transformation. And, of course, some time on the green throne was required later as well. Also, checked on the pond residents. They have certainly been a prolific bunch! Can't count them all. They are especially noticeable in the sunshine. Who knows what they eat? Must be plenty of it!
Anyway, Saturday at The Acres was lovely. My body, soul, and spirit were refreshed. And think of it. probably three more months of blooms to go--unless the vortex comes early of course.