Message from the Mountain

The goldenrod is now becoming the star of the Lupine Field, creating a segway into the fall season. It will remain in bloom until we cut the field in late September-October. It is also the time of year people enjoy the harvest season as they reflect and plan for next year. Support the show

The person who built the Center some eighty years ago also created a flat stone walkway-path from the front door to the stone stairs leading to his garden. Over time Nature covered the stones up, until Derek found them again. A lot of things in life get covered up over time. Support the show

I remember the puzzling question when I was young as to whether the hen or the egg came first. I think of that when I see our hens and chickens in bloom. Besides thinking about the future, Nature often reminds us of things from our past. Support the show

I love to find tiny matchsticks growing in places where they could easily be overlooked by the casual hiker. Some of my earliest memories are of my grandmother gathering some, along with varieties of moss, to make a terrarium. She brought nature inside and into my heart. Support the show

Another special treat in August is when the phlox begin to blossom. This tall flower easily regenerates itself when it scatters its seeds, often in places that fall victim to a lawn mower in the coming year. There are late blooming people who do make a positive difference when sharing their abilities. Support the show

There is a patch of brown eyed susans flourishing on the very edge of some exposed granite near the top of the Lupine Field. The thin layer of topsoil has weathered away, but the flowers are holding fast. People often are at their best when living on the edge. Support the show

Somewhere along the line we discovered echinacea, also known as cone flower, growing in the Lupine Field. We are not sure how it got there but are pleased at having them part of the mix. Life has a lot of interesting mixes to it. Support the show

We sat on the bench at the top of the Lupine Field and watched the rain clouds drift across the valley. As we headed back to the Cabin, drops of water began falling on us. Fortunately, it passed soon, and I was reminded of how quickly things in life can change.   Support the show

After the lupine have gone to seed, another beautiful flower, the ragged robin, takes over the show. I’m not sure how it took root here, but it is very welcome. When we pay attention to the present in life, we discover a lot of beauty. Support the show

It seems as if we wait all year to experience a perfect summer day when the temperature and humidity are just right and the sky is filled with beautiful floating clouds. Often when that day gets here, we are too busy to notice, and afterwards, we begin the wait again.  Support the show

There is at least one apple in the old orchard that looks like it has great potential to be combined with others in the fall as part of the ingredients for an apple pie. In life we have projects and ideas that have good potential for the future if we persevere. Support the show

As we begin our journey through August, many of the varieties of day lilies have finished flowering and so I was delighted to discover a different color just beginning to bloom. In life, just when we think there is nothing new to discover, we find there is much left to find. Support the show

The rainy weather seems to have been good for the wild blueberries growing on the mountain. They are great in muffins, pies, and just plain by the handful. It is a treat not only for the stomach, but for the mind. It is time to enjoy. Support the show

I can think of a lot of food items that double my pleasure when I am eating them, like extra whipped cream or chocolate syrup. We have a double orange lily that doubles my pleasure when looking at them, and I can hold the pleasure in my heart so I can experience it again. Support the show

Recently we spent a couple of days at the family cabin on a lake in Maine, built by my parents over sixty years ago. Now in a trust, it is with a feeling of gratitude that we watch our children and grandchildren create their own memories to revisit in the future. Support the show

The goldenrod have begun to bloom, hinting of the fall season to come. By September the landscape will be ablaze with these bright yellow flowers. Right now there are other flowering plants to focus on before the goldenrod have their turn. Support the show

Up on the mountainside the sounds of the valley drift away, and yet in the silence the voice in our mind is still creating a dialogue with itself. You may be able to hear it better in Nature than in the hustle and bustle of life, but it is still there wherever you go. Think positive. Support the show

Small yellow wildflowers grow in a large patch that looks like a sea of yellow floating on the surface of the Orchard. It is amazing the effect that one small blossom combined with others like them can have on the landscape. Positive actions can do the same in life. Support the show

The grasses in the Orchard and Lupine Field have matured and are ready to go to seed, insuring that a healthy crop will come back again next year. We are constantly spreading and sowing positive actions to help insure they will encourage others to do the same. Support the show

I recently discovered another day lily in a different color. It is redder than the others, and, as always, I am excited when I discover something new in life, whether it is in Nature or discovering talents in people I had not known before. Support the show

One Hosta plant in blossom does not make a big impact in the garden, but several plants blooming together create a beautiful bouquet. One action combined with like actions can make a big impact. Support the show

Hostas have big leaves leading to big expectations by people not familiar with them that they would produce big flowers. They happen to be very small. Sometimes big ideas with expectations produce small results.   Support the show

A different color day lily provides me a variety of the same plant all summer long. Life is full of varieties, and I sometimes look at that as the same thing, only differently. Support the show

The meteorological summer is halfway over and, as always, passing too fast. Keeping watch of day lilies as they bloom helps me focus on each day with the appreciation of the beauty surrounding me. It is so easy to miss these moments, and midsummer yellow lilies help.   Support the show

We have many different kinds of bugs (insects) that find their way to the mountain. Some are good for the plants and trees while others are not. Some exist below the surface, such as termites. We also think of bugged as having information secretly collected on us. Interesting how a word can be taken so differently. Support the show