
Today a lone monarch visited my flowers, sucking out the last drops of nectar. I was excited to see it, since I didn’t see any all summer. The Yellow and Black Swallowtails were here, but no Monarchs. I got my camera and snapped away, as it enjoyed what is left of my Zinnias.
Summer has finally come to an end, and a lot of my flowers grew fungus and mildew on their leaves. The leaves deteriorated and dried up starting at the bottom and going up. But, with a couple of late summer rains, and a little watering from my rain barrels, my Zinnias continue to grow. I also have been cutting off seed heads as the flowers petals fall off. This stimulates them to keep putting out new buds. Although the bottom half of the stem looks dead the top continues to bloom. Some have now reached a height of almost eight feet! I see beauty in the flowers and also in the drying stems and leaves. It reminded me of the stages of life we all go through and that beauty can always be found even as we age and come to the end of life.
In the Fall of Life
beauty is found in aging
Blooms shine above pain








So many nice photos and really cool about your zinnias. The flowers/plants in my yard would go longer, but it’s my failure in not watering them anymore. The poor pepper and tomato plants were going strong but now are wilting 😦
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Just like us! That is why we water each other to keep us from wilting! Thank your inspiration Lisa!
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You are welcome and ditto 🙂
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Dwight, I enjoyed your photos and poem. ❤ There are many "fall flowers" in my life, for which I am grateful. 🙂 There are also some actual flowers that bloom in the fall here, which is also nice. The woods are full of a slender shrub with tiny flowers that look like miniature pink hibiscus with red throats. They open at sunrise and close in late afternoon. I tried to take a picture, but didn't get much. Take care! Cheryl
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Thank you Chery. They are there for you to enjoy one day at a time! We need all the fall flowers in our life. Aging take a lot of encouragement to keep us going and inspired! Have a great weekend!
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Thank you for finding and expressing the beauty in aging.
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I love watching the fall changes in the plants and trees. It is such a good lesson for all of us! I never understood why people try to look forty when then are sixty or seventy! Thank you for all your encouragement Liz!
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You’re welcome, Dwight! I think we’re still living in a youth-oriented culture.
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Don’t know what that says about us!! LOL
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😀 We’ll just have to embrace our inner (and outer) Boomer!
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Yes! I think so!!
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Beautiful. 🙂
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Thank you Jeff!
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Welcome. 🙂
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Beautiful photos and poem. Nature teaches us so much!
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Thank you so much! It really has many lessons for us!
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Lovely! A colorful start to my morning here. Thank you!
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Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed it!
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Beautiful pics 😍😍 and poem 😍😍
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Thank you so much!
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My pleasure ❣️😊
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Beautiful photos Dwight and your glorious haiku epitomized “our” aging process… 🌏🌏
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Thank you Ivor! They are so beautiful at this time of year. Nature’s last gasp before Winter. I appreciate your kind comment!
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Always my pleasure Dwight
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Gorgeous photos AND words, Dwight!!! 🙂
Seasons (Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn)!!! 🙂 Seasons (stages of life, ages in life)!!! 🙂
You are SO right…there is beauty in every season and stage of life…for nature and for us Human-beans, too! We should embrace that more and enjoy finding the joys! 🙂
HUGS!!! 🙂
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I believe we should live a “as hard as we can” while we can. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us! Thank you for your kind words. The flowers of Fall are really beautiful and different from the beginning ones. Have a great weekend!
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You have an eye for beauty and have created beauty all around you Dwight! I am in awe of your zinnias, so beautiful and evergreen, just like you. The monarch photos are beautiful too.
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Where some would see a half dead plant to dispose of I see life on the top that is still budding!! I guess it goes to our perspective of things. I do love beauty in the small things. I don’t have manicured beds of perfect flowers. I have beds of flowers hat are free to bloom, bend, fall over etc and still produce flowers. Butterflies are just icing on the cake so to speak!
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I love the monarchs! Thanks for the delightful photos and the very meaningful Haiku! ❤ Yup, the fall of life is indeed a time to focus on the beauty all around us! ❤
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Enjoy it while you still can! Thanks Jan!! I appreciate your comment.
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Sublime 🖤
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Thank you so much!
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Well written post.
Butterflies are very beautiful creatures.. The last time I enjoyed such presence is at a butterfly pavilion in Haller park kenya. It was just so therapeutic to watch.
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The priceless gems of nature that are really amazing. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and awesome photos.
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You are welcome. Thank you for your comments!
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You’re most welcome!
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Beautiful pictures❤️
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Thank you very much!
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Just as there is so much beauty in these flowers, there is such beauty in a face that reflects a long life well spent – wisdom, pain, joy, experiences, all of it. There is life left to live, and memories and wisdom (and much laughter to share).
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You are exactly right!
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