Love is not love that alters when it alteration finds*

Flowers are at their best when they are at their peak. The blooms are at their most beautiful color, the petals are fresh and supple, and, if there is a fragrance, it is at its most robust. However, there is beauty in the evolution of a bloom. From the tight buds reaching up through the foliage to slowly reveal their color to the first flush of color when they first begin to open.

That first burst of color is refreshing because of the newness of all the petals. The blooms exude color and every corner is fresh and lovely.

Some blooms bring forth a clear white when they first open...

...or even a muted white...

Then, slowly, over time the petals change color.

The petals begin a slow change as that first blush of color begins to transform.

The blush of pink deepens to a true pink.

Some bloom in various colors next to one another.

 

The evolution continues as the white begins to fade to a very light lime green.

And then darkens to reveal a slight blush on the edge of the petals.

The blush begins to fade to beige.

Even as the blooms fade they offer beauty and interest in an almost dried cluster.

Hydrangeas have been my favorite flower/plant for a couple of years. I am mesmerized by their constant charm in all of their evolving stages. I find myself often stopping whatever I am doing and admiring their elegance, delicacy, and grace. I came to love hydrangeas later than many. It was not until I actually began to grow them in my garden a few years ago that I discovered the depth of their allure. Now, they will forever be a favorite as I watch them offer me one of the most exquisite shows in nature.

I am joining Donna at Garden Walk Garden Talk for Word for Wednesday, Evolve. Wander over and see how others have interpreted the word, evolve.

©Michelle A. Potter

* William Shakespeare

Repose - Saying Goodbye

Donna at Garden Walk Garden Talk has offered the word, repose, for Word for Wednesday. Repose is such an appropriate word for this time of year when the garden is slowly moving towards its rest period. We, as gardeners, are winding down our weeding, planting, and garden maintenance. Although I like the flurry of activity in the garden during the spring and summer, I welcome the shift to a slower rhythm once autumn arrives.

Although autumn is a time when things slow down, it is also a time for goodbyes. Nests have been abandoned and saved for next year's nestlings.

Hummingbirds make their annual migration south and say goodbye until next spring. With the cooler weather, they even seem to find time for repose.

These delicate, yet robust, creatures bring me such joy in the garden. I will miss their elegant beauty, that puff of their wings as they sprint by my ear, and that high-pitched and quick chirp they make as they dance around the blooms and the feeders.

Even the butterflies say goodbye as they search for sheltered spots for a chrysalis or they migrate south as the Monarch. Because I could not sufficiently support the Monarch when my butterfly milkweed plant was damaged in the hurricane, I was not sure I would even see any this year. How elated I was when one showed up to give me an autumn goodbye kiss.

A falling leaf landed on a branch of leaves to offer another form of repose.

Repose = restfulness, calm, leisure, peace, quiet, restoration...

Another goodbye to the Hope Grows Day meme. Hanni at Sweet Bean Gardening has turned Hope Grows Day into Hope Grew. She has decided to end this meme's run. Thank you, Hanni, for hosting Hope Grows Day. I will miss thinking about my garden hopes month after month. My hope for October is that the serenity and repose of autumn continues throughout the season.

©Michelle A. Potter