Hello, my quiet friends. Here we are; it’s summer. The heat has arrived and it’s been over a week since our last rain, with none forecasted for the next few weeks at least. Summer vacations have begun and planes, helicopters, and automobiles drone on from dawn until dusk. I am overstimulated by all the noise already — summer is such a hectic season for many; activities and trips and much more are packed into the next few months.
My kind of summer, however, looks a little — okay, a lot — different. I want to move slowly, sleep often, and read a lot of good books in the cool shade of a quiet garden. With a few occasional frolics through the summer grasses and daisies.
For today, let’s find a quiet moment with a walk — the day after a rain, where we seek out those beautiful daisies, the vibrant orange lilies, and the cooling shadows of the forest.
As we traverse the gentle path through an expanse of tall ferns, bright spots of orange can be spotted; the wild lilies poking their blooms above the feathery green fronds. Still clinging to last night’s raindrops, the flowers glisten and twinkle in the brightening sunlight.
One must always keep an eye to the ground or delightful treasures will be overlooked, such as these — a type of flowering groundcover that flourishes beneath the ferns and flowers up above. Tiny and delicate, these flowers are everywhere once we pause to look, creating a stunning carpet of green and pink beneath our feet.
The pristine white petals of the daisies bob and sway in the breeze; not yet tarnished, these long-stemmed beauties have likely just bloomed and are soaking up the heat of the sun.
A miniature flash of pink makes us pause after we leave the daisies; a wild rose caught at just the right moment.
A solitary lupin plant can be seen from our spot on the trail, and so we quietly head off to bask in its presence. Standing tall and straight, the purple-blue blooms are perfect right now.
We hear a soft peeping originating from our left and as we look over, we see momma with a mouthful of goodies being carried home to her babies. She sits amongst the flourishing ferns, waiting for us to continue on our way before she heads off to her nest.
Slowly, we make our way from the open meadow and into the comforting presence of the forest; still vibrantly green for now, the soil not yet dried and the moss not yet faded from summer’s conditions.
We find a soft spot on the moss and lower ourselves down — content to close our eyes and breathe deep, filling our lungs with that fresh mountain forest air.
With love, I’ll see you next time,
♡ Whitney
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Absolutely beautiful images and storytelling!
Whitney, you are such a talented writer! Capturing the senses in your writing, I come here for my peace and calm for the day when I need it. I also get overstimulated by the noise and hustle and bustle of summer. Thank you for sharing your gift!