Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged full moon, Inspiration, lunar, moon, nature, Photography on August 29, 2026| 2 Comments »
Not bad. Thursday’s full moon. The image would have been better if I’d gone outside and used the tripod for a steadier shot. Instead I leaned out the second floor kitchen window contorting and trying not to shake the camera too much. Maybe by the next full moon, end of September, I will gather the courage to set up outside and take some proper shots. We’ll see …
Posted in Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, tagged beauty, colors, flowers, garden, gardening, herbs, Inspiration, memories, nature, Photography, plants, storytelling, writing on August 17, 2026| 4 Comments »
I’m actually having to wear a sweater as I sit on the porch this morning. It rained in the early hours though not enough based on the level of water in the birdbath. A gray day but still bright. A light that makes the white blooms luminous and the reds muted. Classical music wafts from the interior out here to me. As I look around I can see maybe one task for today out here, to properly plant the lemon verbena purchased this weekend.
The sorrel and sage I planted right away. Did a lot of deadheading this weekend and rearranging of chairs and small tables. Basically I reworked the accommodations that had been made for Steve’s wheelchair and long legs needing a significant turn radius to maneuver in and out of the house. So I made the sitting space tighter and more intimate and then clumped flowers, herbs and foliage for density. Then there’s some “white space” between the sitting area and the ramp. Nope haven’t removed the ramp yet. It’s actually convenient and it may prove useful if I need to roll some of the big pots into the house for overwintering.
The plants bordering the ramp are a bit chaotic if bright. Just playing around unprofessionally with color and height. I tend to buy what I can find in a moments notice, especially items on sale, and what I can ferry home by Uber or public transportation. I know that garden centers will deliver big pots/plants but I’m not ready for that investment. Maybe, for landscaping on the ground, in the spring. We’ll see.
So much of what evolved in this little garden space is a balance for my aesthetic desires and Steve’s strong interest in functionality and purpose. For instance he could appreciate the beauty of the strawflower and its biology … but they’re not edible and could a small tomato plant instead fit in that space? 🙂
We sure did have some interesting, ahem, conversations about edible flowers. You see, I bought several books on the subject. One day years ago I walked around the house and picked the petals of edible flowers, maybe a tulip and/or orchid. When Steve walked through the door, home for work, I just handed him the flowers and said, “Eat this.” He did and then raced for a sip of red wine (his go to medicinal when something tasted off) and then asked, “Why are you trying to kill me?” I held up the book. He threw up his arms. “Just because it’s edible doesn’t mean it tastes good!”
On this porch, our last one together, there are many culinary herbs. Of course, the basil, several pots, chives and oreganos, thymes, lavender and now the lemon verbena. I have to admit the chocolate mint is thriving and starting to smell better and better to me. There was a part of me soon after things happened where I considered just letting things go to seed and as things died I would simply clear the porch and not fill in … and then I could hear Steve’s voice. “Dear one, don’t be ridiculous.”
There is joy and well as tears in sitting on the porch whether quietly with a beverage or on the phone with friends as I juggle the phone and trying to put dirt in a pot. So far, so far, I have been able to make myself harvest something from the porch each evening for dinner. It is hard but can be fun to take a few moments to google how to use rosemary and oregano together and so on. When I shared with a friend at work about giving away the pinched basil because Steve was not here to make pesto, he said, “Understandable. And when you’re ready to make your own pesto, bring me some.” I agreed.
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged fishing, friendships, musings, nature, Photography, storytelling on July 28, 2026| 2 Comments »
Now growing up in southern Virginia, fishing was pretty common. All the male members of my family fished though somehow they neglected to take me along. So it wasn’t until I moved to Boston and met this quirky fellow who loved fishing that I finally held a fishing pole. That’s right, I held it. But to Steve’s consternation I didn’t move it. He tried to explain standing there with the line in the water watching the sunlight play upon the lake was not the same as actively trying to catch a fish. I told him, “I think I’m into the zen of fishing.” He just shook his head. Luckily for Steve, a good friend connected him with a group of men who’d been fishing together for decades since they were children. A spot opened up and Steve fit. About every two years they’d gather and make their way to a fishing hole in Canada. It was probably one of the most joyous experiences Steve looked forward to later in life. One of the gentlemen shared this photo with me in his memory.
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged beauty, colors, flowers, gardening, Inspiration, nature, Photography on July 26, 2026| 3 Comments »
… it is probably best to do some good weeding before hitting multiple nurseries in one day. Didn’t pick up much but what I did I love. Let’s see if I can keep the strawflowers alive.
Posted in Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, Uncategorized, tagged beauty, colors, container gardening, flowers, gardening, Inspiration, musings, nature, Photography on July 1, 2026| Leave a Comment »
… there is no rhyme or reason to the gardening on the porch/patio. It is a riot of colors and styles.
Each morning I rise to peek out and see scattered dirt as the squirrels rise earlier then I do and begin their daily quest for food.
I’ve let the backyard go. The only that will be harvested from down on the ground will be garlic planted last fall. When I look down there is the afternoon light I can see many happy baby bunnies nibbling at all the weeds and things that are overgrown. I do appreciate the perennials that have come back and have no bunny-appeal.
While I do feel bad about the yard, I am glad about the porch. There’s an increasing number of patio-specific fruits and vegetables and its been fun learning about those. And, of course, of course, there is still room for plenty of basil for future pesto making.
Posted in Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, tagged gardening, Inspiration, mint, nature, Photography on June 28, 2026| 1 Comment »
… how the chocolate mint wound up in my cart or the strawberry mint. I’m beginning to think one should never go to a garden center when one is hungry. The challenge is that I am not a huge mint fan as I’ve grown older. I’m afraid that if the garden center had had ginger, cinnamon, orange and apple mints, as well, I would have come home with them too! Interesting thing about mint is that it is hardy. So what do I do with it? I think it was nostalgia that made me pick up the plants. Growing up in Virginia I remember wild mint growing and making some tea … after I washed the ants off the plants. Apparently these mints are great for flavoring desserts, teas and cocktails. Steve and I don’t do cocktails but friends and coworkers may be receiving some unexpected gifts. We’ll see. 🙂
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged childhood, Contributing Writer, faith, Inspiration, life, memories, nature, nostalgia, Photography, poetry, rain, storms, weather on May 30, 2026| 3 Comments »
I don’t think the wind and rain this morning really constitutes a storm, per se, but there is a ruggedness to the weather that makes me reminisce about a younger me who would relish dashing outside, however briefly, to experience a summer storm. Not so much now. I am wrapped in a thick sweater, sipping hot coffee, and tempted to slip back under the covers where a sleepy Steve still resides. I’ll wake him in a bit because he has a calvacade of people coming through today, friends, family, tai chi teachers and so on. Meanwhile I share a poem I wrote, way back when, all the way back in 2010, about the storms of my youth in Virginia.
Summer Storms
The food I’ve purchased and brought North with me.Â
But the weather I could not carry in a cardboard box.
So when people ask what I miss, that is what I tell them,
I miss most the southern summer storm.
You know the ones,
the ones with rolling thunder trailing white lightening in their wake.
Sheets of rain falling like milk from the sky.
Such deafening noise and blinding light.
Children trembling as we peered past drawn curtains.
Unending it seemed but then poof!
Like magic it would stop, leaving silence in the air.Â
Darkness would part for the sun. Birds sang.
All that remained of the storm would be puddles
and leaves strewn across the front porch.
We’d step outside into a golden light.
God had scrubbed the world clean.
Just for us, you know, so that we could play.
And play we did until the sun set
and the lightening bugs came out and danced with the stars.
We would sit in the damp
winding down from another day well done.
That is why I miss the summer storm.
Posted in Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, tagged flowers, gardening, Inspiration, nature, Photography on May 29, 2026| 1 Comment »
… survived the initial bunny attack and is somewhat thriving. Maybe bunnies don’t like the taste of cucumbers.
The pansies survived the birds snipping off its flowers to decorate early Spring nests.
The potatoes are thriving in their bucket nestled amidst the weeds.
And the scapes are forming on the garlic. Not sure how much more will be planted on the ground this growing season but feeling good about what’s out there right now.
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged hiking, Inspiration, natural new england, nature, Photography, urban landscape on May 29, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Hard to believe it has been well over fifteen or more years since I used to meander the trails of Edmands Park in Newton, MA. I wrote about the experience: https://wordsandimagesbycynthia.com/2016/11/17/revisiting-edmands-park/
And now I am honored to have a couple of my floral photos from the park in the the 2026 edition of the Newton Conservators Trail Guide. The layout, graphics and information is wonderful. Leafing through it actually inspires me to put on my hiking boots and head back out into the woods. If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll give it a try. Available here: https://newtonconservators.org/buy-a-guide/
Posted in Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, tagged colors, fanciful, food, food poetry, fun with words, gardening, Inspiration, nature, Photography, poetry on May 2, 2026| 2 Comments »
One of my favorite poems is This is Just to Say by William Carlos Williams. I thought of that poem as I stepped out onto the porch today and picked some greens. He ate plums. I picked some swiss chard. 🙂
Here is What I Have to Say
I’ve been eating
the swiss chard
from a pot
on the porch
just like a rabbit
nibbling a few leavesÂ
at a time
so delicious
crisp and crunchy
colors bright green
and oh yes the ruby
all divine
Words + Images 