Oatmeal and Cream...and Celery

Oatmeal, wheat, cream, butter, apricot and celery...No, I'm not writing a bizarre recipe, or my weekly grocery list!  These are some of the subtle colours of the Autumn palette.  While vivid yellows, oranges, reds and maroons dominate the Fall palette (see archives Autumn is Awesome 23/10/2017), the nuanced beiges, creams, pale pinks and soft greens have a quiet splendor all their own. 

Often the subdued colours, are needed to balance the more vibrant colours, so that they actually stand out.  The image of apples piled in a basket in front of a neighbourhood street market (above), would be boring, if only bright red apples were in the photo.  Try covering up all of the apples, except for the three red ones in the centre.  Now, show the whole photo.  As my Dad used to say, "how d'ya like them apples"!

One of my favourite flowers is Hydrangea.  The bright blue and pink plants begin appearing in grocery stores in time for Easter and Mothers' Day.  By June, the annuals in the garden are bursting with blossoms of azure, violet, light blue, baby pink, deep pink, and red plum.  As Fall approaches, the blossoms lighten, even turning to a light celery green colour. 

This beautiful, cream-coloured blossom (below), with just a hint of soft green, is a perfect example of the true Hydrangea blossom.  The true flower is the tiny white blossom within the centre of the four petals.  It's the first time I've seen one...nevermind all the others blooming around it!  

The Chicago Peace tearose which has bloomed throughout the Summer on my balcony, is blooming for the last time this year.  After four waves, or flushes, it is saying farewell in style.  The final blooms are softer shades of apricot, pink and butter cream:  the colours of the sunrise on a sombre grey morning.

Speaking of mornings, the breakfast shades of oatmeal, wheat and toast are everywhere at this time of year.  Bright yellow, black and white pop against the muted grey, brown and pumpkin colours of this Painted Lady butterfly.

Ornamental grasses, blowing in the October wind, gleam on a sunny afternoon.  Feather Reedgrass looks a little like Prairie wheat.  It's nature's weather vane, wafting in a light breeze, or bending in a storm - and it is hardy in a harsh Winter climate.  

  

There's another plant, which gently sways with the wind...often mistakenly called Pampas Grass, the tall oatmeal-white Ravenna Grass (below), is not native to Argentina.  It's a Mediterranean plant.  Ravenna Grass is a hardy, and vigorously spreading plant, that is classified as an unwanted, noxious weed in some parts of the US.  Which is ironic, considering that the Italian city of Ravenna has no less than eight United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Oranization (UNESCO) World Heritage sites!  How d'ya like them apples?! 

   

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Monarchs and Painted Ladies

Monarchs and Painted Lady butterflies have waltzed through September, and much of October together, without a thought for the Winter social season down South.  They've been feasting on the nectar of flowers, and basking in the sunshine here in the North.  The unusually wet Eastern Canadian Summer, and hot, sunny weeks in September, have produced a lot of nectar, and kept butterflies in the Northern Hemisphere.

They're having a nectar banquet, storing energy for the long voyage to Mexico.  The four thousand kilometre (about 2,500 mile) journey will take about six to eight weeks.  They're in no hurry to pack their bags. 

Even for a daytime luncheon, the butterflies really dress up!  Monarchs are larger than the Painted Lady butterflies.  Their deep orange coloured wings are rimmed in black, with white polka dots.  Monarch wings are veined, and look much like stained glass windows.

Painted Lady butterflies are smaller, and move more quickly.  Their wings too, are orange and black, however they're dappled with colour.  The black and white pattern is found only in the top corner of the front wings.  Their upper bodies are a blue green colour, and they look like they're wearing a silk bodice or vest.

The Viceroy butterfly is a no show at this gathering.  It is often mistaken for a Monarch.  The Viceroy has a distinctive black line, running in a semi-circle across the hind wings.  Only true Monarchs at this garden party!

The male Monarch (above) is taking a rest from fluttering.  How can you tell if it's male or female?  Do you see the small, black oval shaped dot on one of the thin veins near the tail of the butterfly?  That is one of the butterfly's scent glands - and only the males have them.  The female butterflies do not have these oval dots, and their veins are thicker.

Here's a female Monarch (above and below).  You can see the veins are wider, and she has no black oval dot alongside the vein near her tail.  Not only that, she has a Ladybug-in-waiting with her!  An Asian Ladybug, wearing a bright yellow and black polka-dotted suit is in attendance.

More and more guests arrive at the party, savouring the buffet lunch.  

A Painted Lady glances over at the bee, and realizing that she is not the Queen bee, relaxes her wings just a little.   A butterfly can't truly relax...after all, the butterfly paparazzi (that would be me) are here!

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams,  Widow's Endorphines Photographic Images Incorporated.