November Light

I walk through the garden now and notice the changing light of November.  The sun shines lower in the sky.  And with this change comes the glow of November.  Even here, where the leaves are not changing, but the temperatures are now in the 50s at night, the quality of the light changes. It is like transparent honey which is spread over the objects it finds.  Sitting in the garden this afternoon as the sun moved toward sunset, I could see the shadows offset the golden yellow light streaming through the leaves and my bamboo fence.

The chrysanthemums changed color as the fading sunlight fell on their blooms.

I remember many Novembers for this kind of light. One in particular, I was recovering from a serious illness and had time to look at the November light. The light became the focus of my days, as I would wait for it to fall upon plants, corn stalks, red tractors, fallen leaves. It changed the objects it met, leaving them with the same glow.

Here the fronds of an Australian tree fern change color in the rays of this afternoon's sun. And I begin to notice a rose's glow, bedding plants set apart by the light and pansies' bright faces.

 

 

 

English Daisy 'Bellis'

 

Some of the new plants in the garden take on this light and look renewed and transformed.

 

Echeveria

 Sedum 'Golden Carpet'

Such looking brings me a great sense of peace and tranquility.  Does the light enter me?  Or does the concentration bring me to this state?  I think both. Observing the garden rather than working in it can bring some new revelations.  So I found myself sitting and letting the light move and change about me. And the mood followed me inside.  Gifts of the garden and the gardener who observes.

I have trouble sitting and observing the garden without wanting to do something to improve the plants-- pruning, sweeping, picking up debris. There are always so many tasks that ask to be done. But to learn to sit in the garden and observe is a fruit of taking more and more photographs for my blog.  I cannot be so busy when I take a picture. I must move slowly and observe more closely. Then I see the subtle changes that can fill my spirit.

I remembered today how much I love November light.  Nature offers such simple gifts. I must just pause to notice them.

"And to see takes time. Like to have a friend takes time."  Georgia O'Keefe