Fall's True Colors

Oh, the sweet days of Fall! Just a wonderful time in Colorado when the temperature is mild during the day, the skies are sunny, and the colors of the Autumn season are just spectacular in their display of God given hues. 

I installed and painted the garden travel sign years ago, and it began with real travel destinations to places we visited over the years. Everything from Paris to London to Walt Disney World and Victoria. But the individual markers mostly deteriorated. The one for Kapaula Bay, Hawaii, now sits on my office wall above the door. Years later, I replaced them with these storybook locations.

 

It has sort of become my custom to take photos of my yard this time of year. I guess 2023 is no exception. The photographer has his faults, and the end result is certainly not professional by any means. But the colors do not do justice to the real thing.  

Remnants of Summer are still to be found in my garden if I look for them. The hammock lies empty for now at least. Once the kids come back, it's a pretty popular spot to hand out- and in the case of the littlest guys, it's always a three person affair.

Hidden in the very corner is this little festival of color. A bit of each season. It will have to do until next year when things change again, and once more, my eyes wonder at the marvels of God's design. As a former Californian, Summer used to be my favorite season, but I have to admit, my heart has changed just like the colors of my garden!

My Son, My Tree Hero

Each year for Fathers Day but really for every occasion, I'm blessed by the thoughtfulness of my kids and the gifts they choose. 

In a break with tradition, my wife bought be a beautiful lantern for me to hang in the branches of one of my trees. I think I'm up to almost 20 lanterns and maybe 2/3 that many trees now in the backyard. With a dash of an Imagineering trained brain, I started this obsession years ago. It is truly magical when the lights go on after dark.

My eldest son is the music lover in the family (just like his Dad), and my gift was a new book about the insiders look at promotion in the music industry and a great album featuring the Sounds of Philadelphia. Loving the vinyl resurgence, aren't you?

Our oldest daughter and her husband signed me up for a year long subscription to MasterClass. (If you want to unexpectedly laugh while you learn, the Gangsta Gardener is hilarious! Who doesn't need a laugh after the events of the last two years. Robert Iger is on, too, talking about leadership.) A super thoughtful gift that will give back all year long. 

Our youngest daughter created an Italian meal in a box, complete with all the items, additional recipes, and a jar of her should-be-world-famous homemade pesto. I won't share her secret ingredient, but what a difference it makes. Unique and traditional flavors worth savoring. She is one of the best cooks I know- and she'll be teaching me some basic Chinese dishes in the weeks to come. 

Last but not least, our youngest son did something I could never do: Dug holes and planted three trees in our monstrous back yard. It took him all day as these maples and elm were pretty big! While I was dead tired after helping, he was just "a little sore". But the guy is buff. He's also a big Harry Potter fan, so we are looking forward to seeing the Universal parks through his eyes when we go to with him to Florida in September. That should be one great trip and trip report!

Summer Kicks Off!

Finally, Summer arrives! Not officially, but for us, the warmer weather and the ability to sleep at night with the cool but not cold breezes marks the beginning of the season. And this nice little greenhouse project makes a great beginning to time in the garden!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

An Imperfect Perfect Backyard

Quite a rainstorm today, with a lengthy burst of pulsating water and a great Summer breeze to go with it. It all left behind a layer of green we haven't seen in several weeks.

Gardeners call what we have a "mature landscape". It means new things grow and bloom but trees are starting to have their end of lives near. We've lost 4 in the last few years, but that was due to harsh freezes right before Spring, killing off the weaker ones.

It's an imperfect perfect back yard. Home to a wedding, numerous celebration dinners, and lots of late night drinks (and dancing) on the patio, it's been an important part of our family and church life. I think back with thankfulness and joy for the Lord placing us here!

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Seasons of the Garden

What a beautiful Fall! Or Autumn, if you prefer. It's been hot, hot, hot- and the sun has been creating havoc in my backyard. But, oh the colors!

My ivy seems to bring out most of the reds in the yard. It's quite a sight. I remember planting this years ago, when it was just one little plant which I hoped would crawl up the fence. Now it's taken over the back fence and bursting over the top of it. Providing a great show every year for folks walking by as well as for those of us in the yard. That is, as long as an early snow doesn't kill it.

From the top of the hill in our yard. We sit on 1/3 of an acre. Not much by Colorado standards, but quite a bit for those of us from California- and a lot to mow. 

There was just grass and not a shred of anything else when we moved in years ago. Everything was hand planted. I remember praying over each little twig of a shrub or tree with my preschoolers, asking God to bless it.

You may have noticed a few trees dying now. After all these years, we have what folks call a "mature" garden. I've had to say goodbye to several trees this year- and I've done it with some sadness. 

Twenty six years we have lived here, more than anywhere else my wife or I have ever lived in any house. We've seen numerous patio parties, our eldest daughter's wedding here, apple picking with the grandkids and more. It's been good and rich and blessed by the Lord. 

Now I watch my grandsons climb in the trees or my granddaughters swing in the hammock- and it makes me smile. My lovely French maternal grandmother- (tribute here) who was only educated until second grade due to a family tragedy where she had to raise her younger siblings after her mother died- used to say "Life is a wheel", and so it is. I wish she could see me with my grandkids. It would make her smile.

Days happen that I anxiously await eternity with Jesus, but many days, I thank Him for the years I'm seeing and the years in the past. He's been so good and faithful to me, even in the hardest things in life!

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)