The First of a New Year: My Best

I really didn't have a photo I thought of as my best.

This photo was taken last month, on a cold day.

There were dead hosta, lying gold and 

translucent in their beds. 

Then I turned to see one bright rose,

shining brightly as the late afternoon sun 

heated the limestone block, 

and chill breezes froze everything 

else to the ground.

Hot Pink

The weather this first week of autumn 

seemed more like late summer.

There are tinges of orange in the trees, while roses 

bloom underneath them, one more time.

These roses glowed, vibrant hot pink in the noon sun. 

The more subdued red berries hung above,

preparing for their entrance while 

the bright flowers made a dramatic exit.

Last Roses

Just when you think they're done, the weather came up 

with a respite for roses. These are outside a nearby church, 

but similar brethren can be seen all over town. 

The bushes hold tight, unopened buds, newly bloomed

flowers, as well as tired and faded blooms.

I liked the range of color, and the way the flowers 

were set off against the brick wall.

Beautiful Misery

The past few summers have been dry.

Not this year, because every living thing has 

received a fair allotment of rain.

Everything is its appropriate green,

rose, pink or yellow color.

And everything exists in abundance.

Which goes a long way to explaining why

I acquired a miserable, lingering summer cold

complete with fever, aches, and annoying coughing 

spells that are exhausting.

These pictures show two of the 

suspects. I dearly love them and enjoy

their presence far more than

anything offered by fall and winter.

But thy, oh, why, did they and

their floral brethren decide to target me?

I love them!

Rainy Friday

Amid a patch of dried, black echinacea, are a few that bloomed 

after their brethren had succumbed to the summer heat. 

I took a slightly different path to the convenience store, 

only about a quarter mile from home. The different route 

got me this picture of a cat, wiling away the afternoon 

watching the leaves dance in the afternoon breeze.

And then there were sodden roses, their bright pink color 

set off against the dark green leaves and red stems.

They Look Nice Together

A few days ago as the sun was setting, the late afternoon light 

made these little purple guys just glow and, coupled 

with the way the color of the rose was repeated in the base 

of the purple flowers, my eyes fell in love.

Frosty Roses

After a week that had started off  bleak and unpromising, 

we have been treated to blue skies and more seasonable 

temperatures. Alongside the driveway into work 

I saw rosebushes, their late-season blooms outlined in frost.

It seemed like an unusual and beautiful study in contrasts.

If it's truly the small things we have that matter, 

sometimes it may also be all we have.

Today, it was the frosty roses that made me smile.