Summer is officially here on the Cutoff. Most days are warm and humid, with a few brilliant, perfect days scattered in between, and just as many thunderous days and nights with rain. The peonies are finished, but . . . the roses and clematis have been having a grand time, holding court for days on end, and buds are forming on the Echinacea and daisies. Why, just today the bee balm joined the chorus. Yes, my friends, it is summer on the Cutoff, with a poem that showed up in my inbox this morning and seemed to be written just for us!
The oriole sings in the greening grove
As if he were half-way waiting,
The rosebuds peep from their hoods of green,
Timid and hesitating.
The rain comes down in a torrent sweep
And the nights smell warm and piney,
The garden thrives, but the tender shoots
Are yellow-green and tiny.
Then a flash of sun on a waiting hill,
Streams laugh that erst were quiet,
The sky smiles down with a dazzling blue
And the woods run mad with riot.
Summer in the South by Paul Laurence Dunbar
It seems no time at all since you were thinking summer would never come, and now it’s here, in all its glory. Now, you watch yourself Penny as the woods run riot! I haven’t forgotten about your lack of fingerprints. Such a dazzling season could tempt you into adventures and indiscretions. (May they all be full of enjoyment!)
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How true that is, Juiet. Today was a scorcher!
Ha! You’re on to me, Juliet. The truth is out. I may need to wear some “foxgloves” to hide my indiscretions.
Hope you had a good weekend.
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Sigh. I just love your green thumb, Penny.
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Aw. Thanks Andra.
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The colours, Penny! Just stunning. Lovely to see Summer arrive at The Cutoff.
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It has been very green here with all the rain, Kate, making the colors of the roses and clematis all the more alluring. Today was very hot.
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I so love the poem. How did it come to be sent to you?? My peonies are just beginning, though I don’t dare look because we had three inches of rain today!
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I subscribe to two sites, Nan. Poem-a-day (which is where Summer in the South is from) and Garrison Keillor’s Writer’s Almanac. Dunbar’s poem called to me yesterday. It happens sometimes, to my delight.
Three inches. That is a great deal in a short time. I hope you can save some of the peonies. It always seems to rain just after peonies open.
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What lovely pictures of the flowers. You know that you aren’t the only people who enjoy them—they are admired by all who pass by your home. So what you have is a shared beauty. I just wish it wasn’t so HOT!
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Thank you, Marilyn, and what a sweet thing to say. I appreciate it.
It’s pretty steamy here today as well, though I think you are having much more heat than we are. Stay cool.
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Just lovely pictures. I saw the same poem in my inbox. Your pictures blend with it perfectly and make it even more enjoyable.
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I’m so glad that you did, too, Janet. It’s nice to think of me here and you there, reading such a nice poem – and an old one, I that. Thank you. Today, the roses are starting to lose their petals; still blooming, but on the other side of their glory, BUT, the clematis are having a ball!
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There is a rhythm to it all, isn’t there? The heat, the rain, the budding and sprouting. All captured beautifully here – are you ready for the woods running riot? Enjoy! Axxx
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Indeed, there is a rhythm, Annie, and I am ready for those rioting woods. We haven’t taken a walk in the woods in a while. It makes me want to do so now (thought he mosquitoes are part of the riot at present – sigh).
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Dear Penny, most of the time when I read the poems on your blog and on Teresa Evangeline’s, I meet a poet who is new to me. But this time I recognize the poem and the poet. I studied his poems many years ago. Thank you for this one, which does, indeed, reflect all you’ve been writing about in June. Peace.
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I wish I had studied Mr. Dunbar’s poems, Dee. I don’t know why he didn’t come up in American literature classes I took, especially since he spent time in Chicago. I guess we were too busy studying Carl Sandburg. I am enjoying reading his poetry now, and happy to know he is familiar to you.
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I just signed up for the poets.org mailing. And on the site I read the most amazing poem called Getting Close by Victoria Redel. She wrote my thoughts. I couldn’t believe it.
The peonies turned rusty in no time. They come and go so quickly anyway, but a rain makes the process quicker.
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Nan, Getting Close was what popped up today and I thought the same thing. I have the wallet my mom used until she passed away. Sometimes, I pull it out just to touch it, touch her. I’m glad to hear you signed up. I think you will enjoy receiving it.
Peonies; so graceful, beautiful, and fleeting. I saw some real beauties this weekend during an open day walk and hope to post them. The garden was close to Lake Michigan with its own little climate zone. Ours are long gone. Wish yours had lasted longer.
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I would just love to spend some time in your garden, Penny! There are many beautiful gardens, but I think you love yours with such pleasure that it surely reciprocates with a “riot”of color! Summer hit us full throttle this week, too. We’ve had very mild weather up until today. It’s HOT–full throttle hot! I must admit I kind of like it. But I’m sure watering a lot and they’re talking rationing again. I just do the best I can with that…and fully appreciate that our evenings do cool off nicely! 🙂 Happy Summer on the Cutoff, my friend.
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We’ve had some heat and humidity here, too, and storms! Record rainfall for June – and more rain in June than all of last summer. Everything is lush, Debra, not much color, yet. You are right, though. I love my garden. I wish you could spend some time here in the garden as well. Happy Summer to you, too (and, of course, to Darwin).
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You had record rainfall for June, and we just heard our “record” went in reverse. We have had the driest season in decades. My poor little plants are going to be a little thirsty, but I’m slowly adding in more and more drought tolerant plants. To convert everything, though, would take more effort than I can even imagine, except that I can do this slowly, I suppose! It is very hot this weekend, but the truth is I enjoy summer. I don’t have to be out in the heat of the day much, so I’m not complaining too much. And good old Darwin is an African tortoise. He seems happy! 🙂
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We’ve been following your weather, Debra, and all that heat and the dry record in process. It seems like strange weather is upon a good part of the country, and I watch and read of our friends abroad. Slowly adding drought tolerant plants is a prudent approach and I know you have written about this, which helps illustrate the issue of planting natives to others.
We are in the middle of a garage sales this weekend. Not selling much, but, meeting lots of neighbors. One came by, didn’t even look at what we had to sell, but, chatted away about our and her garden. Poor dear started to tear up talking about her apricot tree. The deer have eaten most of the apricots. I felt so badly for her.
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A lovely poem and even lovelier flowers, Penny. I’m glad your summer has arrived as ours is proving dilatory, though they are forecasting temperatures up to the mid-20s later next week. That’s summer for us! 🙂
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You have had such a conflict of seasons there, haven’t you? The roses and clematis have been spectacular this year, due to the rainfall we have experienced. This June, we had more rain than all of last summer. Yesterday turned quite cool, but, lovely for sleeping. I’m hoping you get some summer yet, Perpetua.
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