A Note From Above

I'm not sure if anyone reads "blogs" anymore. Perhaps an old codger like me is just "drooling" in the wind.  But, as long as I enjoy it (which I do) and can still find my way down to the Bat Cave where my wood-burning computer lives, I'll keep doing it.

The muse doesn't visit me very often anymore, but this morning nature did.....and left me a note on my weed infested front lawn......that said, "here's your story for today."

A Note from Nature

It used to be called Harvest. but ever since the 16th century most English speakers have called it Autumn, or Fall.

It's the only season we have two names for, and I believe that's because it's so special. Like "love" no one knows exactly when it begins....they just know it's very special.  Meteorologically, Fall begins on September first every year.

Astronomers base the date of the seasons upon celestial events, in this case the autumnal equinox, when night and day are roughly equal length. The equinox normally takes place around September 21st.

The third definition of the start of autumn, which is more fluid, comes from phenology – the study of periodic plant and animal life cycle events.

The start of autumn in this field is dictated not by a set date or a single event, but the changes in the natural world, such as the tinting of the trees and the ripening of autumn fruits.

However,do not confuse phenology........with Phrenology...which is the study of  bumps on a person's head. 

More about that later, but for now, I'll just say that anyone who doesn't love the Fall Season....should have his head examined.

 
-Ed

How About a Little Respect for Kudzo and Friends

Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but don't call my front yard friends "weeds!"

The Sophistocated Europeans were glad to get rid of the Riff Raff who left Europe to become the early Americans. They were considered the "weeds" of society. When they got here, they fought and struggled...and through sheer determination.... prevailed.

As nature author Michele Collins wrote:  These plants (weeds) are resilient and proud. More importantly, they are choke full of medicinal value.  Many are rich sources of vitamins and minerals and have powerful healing potential for a vast range of common diseases like diabetes, cancer, liver disease, just to mention a few. Plants like dandelion, burdock, red clover, chickweed, wild violet, couchgrass, kudzu, plantain.

Like the early pioneers, my favorite weed......in my yard ....is a survivor!

-Ed

But a weed is simply a plant that wants to grow where people want something else.  In blaming nature, people mistake the culprit.  Weeds are people’s idea, not nature’s.  ~Author Unknown

A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows.  Doug Larson

I learn more about God
 from weeds than from roses;
 Resilience springing 
through the smallest chink of hope 
in the absolute of concrete….
~Phillip Pulfrey, “Weeds,” Perspectives