It’s August, The Peak and Twilight of Summer!
Dear ones…August has arrived here in SW Florida and it is definitely the peak of the season…as the sweet Georgia peaches are almost gone from our local Farmer;s Markets, which saddens me a bit because I know that the twilight of Summer is upon us. Autumn is just around the corner and that signifies harvest, Thanksgiving and then the Winter season with Christmas bells a-ringing. It is just moving all too fast. I am sure it is age related because as a child, the days and months took leisurely strolls with some months taking their time, often pausing along the way.
I love the term Twilight of Summer because it beings to mind the Twilight of the day …you know the blue hour, that transitional period from the bright sunny day to the evening shadows and finally darkness. Here in the South, (Southwest Florida to be exact), the heat lessens a bit and the evenings enjoy the ocean breezes from the Gulf. I love that time of early evening but I also love the early morning.
Just before and after sunrise, brings the soft coastal sea breezes and I love to have my cuppa tea and my quiet time either under the pergola or on the seating area under the triple umbrellas, which by the way are working out nicely…so far.
Of course later in the day it is hot, usually accompanied by high humidity, so those two time periods are the times to enjoy the outdoors here in SW Florida.
I love to sit out here and listen to the birdsong. So peaceful and quiet.
I have struggled to keep my zinnias wet and happy, so I try to give them a good long drink when I venture out..
I would rather Mr. Squirrel would find another place to perch other than the top of the pergola, especially when I walk out in the early morning to have my quiet time. He kinda gives me a start…I open the French doors and there he is…staring at me.
On the other hand, I adore the little geckos who are so kind as to keep the mosquito, spider, cricket, and fly population at bay in the Secret Garden. They are not scary and if I walk out to the Secret Garden, he will disappear into the bushes. They are very small about 5-7 inches including tail.
This one is actually busy trying to attract a female as he inflates and deflates his dewlap…Most people call these common small backyard lizards “geckos“, but they are actually anoles (such as the Green Anole or Brown anole) Males flare out the red skin and bob their heads to scare away other male rivals or to get the attention of mates.
I absolutely love the fragrance of the evening jasmine, which wafts gently in early evenings and the blooms seem to ‘glow’ when it gets dark. They remind me of a Moonlight Garden flower.
Also in the Secret Garden is the purple crepe myrtle, which as many of you know I call ‘my purple lilacs’…I have even convinced myself that they smell like lilacs. 🥰
Bougainvillea blooms all summer long down here and into the Fall. We (meaning the Captain) moves the potted ones from time to time depending on the sun and shade under the pergola, though they are very hardy.
I’ve changed the Govee lights to a pale purple for these lingering summer days….don’t know why, but purple seemed appropriate. I love that I can control them with my IPhone. I can also make them chasing or fading or sequential string lights. I’ll change them to harvest colors probably in September or October.
Twilight or Blue Hour
You’ll remember I had red white and blue for July and the photo above shows off my favorite time of day…the ‘blue hour’.
Blessings Always and enjoy this twilight transition from Summer to Fall, ….before you know it we will be feeling the cold, frosty, snowy, Wintry days, and dreaming about Summer. Maybe??? 🥰☀️🌴🤗☃️🤷🏼♀️💕
