Fallen leaves of Ginko biloba.
There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you…. In spring, summer and fall people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself.
~Ruth Stout
While that question is probably a little difficult to answer in a paragraph (or even in a lifetime), I can tell you that my name is Meredith, and that I love to ponder life's mystery and beauty and joys and then write about them. This blog is all about my interactions with Nature during my walks in the woods, visits to Botanical Gardens, in my own small, organic kitchen garden -- and anywhere else I happen to be when inspiration strikes.
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I love the feeling of retreating to home that you can have during winter. Not so much physically in Florida, because some of our best weather is in the winter, and we want to be outside then, but there is still an introspection that seems to come on me during December and January. Some sort of natural rhythm, perhaps?
Kathy´s last blog ..The Gift of Permission
After many millenia, I’m sure the cycles of the earth are part of our DNA. But having gotten to know so many garden and nature bloggers around the world, I have to wonder if the four seasons one is naturally imprinted. Probably not. There are places with only dry and wet seasons, for instance. And what about all those who live near the equator?
Maybe, though, these particular cycles were built into you during your childhood spent in the midwest, Kathy. (I hope I’m right in recalling that detail.)
Meredith´s last blog ..savor
One of the best parts of the season – cocooning…and allowing some visitors into the cocoon every once in a while
Talon´s last blog ..Miracle musings
But only the safe, warm, cuddly kind of visitors.
Meredith´s last blog ..savor
It’s a time for artists (who are also gardeners) to give themselves permission to stay in doors without feeling the need to tend to things outside.
kari lonning´s last blog ..Inspired by a Montana Landscape
Kari, don’t you wish we could grant ourselves that permission all year round, whenever we need it, without regard to the seasons?
Meredith´s last blog ..savor
Ohh how that makes me wish for the cottage in the middle of nowhere that andrew and i have run away to for the past 2 christmases. Alas a new house = no money hahaha. So we’re doing the family thing this time – it might be fun ?
carrie´s last blog ..A shiny new Gardening book what I love -
But you’ll get to inaugurate the new house with loads of Christmas cheer, Carrie. Go ahead and imbed some joy in the walls for future holiday seasons and generations. I’m sure it will be wonderful!
Dear Meredith, It is this hibernating aspect of winter which has such special appeal. Too cold and miserable to be outdoors, it is a wonderful time to cocoon at home with a good book and a warming drink. Perfect!!
Edith Hope´s last blog ..Nursery Tales and Nursery Food
Edith, I so wish I could actually hibernate right now. With the ground frozen solid and crunching underfoot this morning, all I wanted to do was crawl back under the covers. And hot chocolate is de rigeur!
Meredith´s last blog ..savor
aloha meredith,
beautiful composition, even when the leaves are faded, its still striking against a dark background…so good to hear from you again.
we are getting snow on our tallest peaks here in hawaii, can you believe that!
noel´s last blog ..Time for Mushroom Picking
Thank you, Noel. The whole area was strewn with gold when these leaves fell. The ginko apparently likes to drop its fall foliage all at once or in a very short period of time.
Amazing about the snow in Hawaii! I love details like that.
Meredith´s last blog ..savor
A lovely photo and a fine quote to match. It’s so true about winter. It somehow feels less temporary than the other three seasons. I tend to anticipate the others much more. Winter gives me more appreciation.
HIlary´s last blog ..Hanukkah- You Cant Hold A Candle To It
Thank you for the compliments, Hilary. I love your observation about the somewhat permanent feeling that accompanies winter. I hadn’t thought of it quite that way before. But it does feel, well, final somehow.
Meredith´s last blog ..savor
Hi Meredith,
I love the word savor and all that it allows me to do: appreciate the deliciousness of an experience, allow my vision to adjust to the external and find the beauty in it, enable me to turn off my mind and let my senses lead–pure delight! Thank you–may you find much to savor this season and beyond:)
Joy´s last blog ..An Easy Recipe to Joyfully Step into Your Wildest Dream
Joy, “savor” is a lovely word. For me it almost means snuggling up with a sensual detail, getting to know it personally, letting it seep inside my skin all the way to my heart. I hope you will be savoring life — and teaching others to do so, too — for a long time to come.
Meredith´s last blog ..savor
That is so true – I hadn’t thought about that though.
Lynn´s last blog ..Sweet song- living on and walk in the park
I hadn’t thought of it quite that way, either, Lynn, which is why I had to share the quote.
I wish we had more of a winter season here in Northern CA. We do have a ginko though. Its leaves turned brilliant yellow then dropped all at once one windy day.
Susan Tiner´s last blog ..26 Dream Death
The ginko whose leaves are pictured here did the same thing, Susan! Although in this case, it was the storm that brought them all down — in a picturesque leaf-rain.
Mmmm. So true. I think this year will be my year of learning to truly appreciate winter.
Elizabeth´s last blog ..ode to joy- volume 49
Elizabeth, I have said that before — and then I still struggle with it. I think I’ll work on just accepting each wintry moment as it comes, and leave it at that.
What interesting leaves and a great shot too, Meredith. We’re in summer DownUnder but I can imagine the cosiness, solitude and self-reflection that your winters offer you. Thoughtful quote.
Serena´s last blog ..Im a GRANDMA!!!!
Thanks, Serena. Whenever I do a seasonal post, I wonder how it translates on the other side of the equator — but then I remember how much I get out of seasonal posts from Australia and South Africa, despite our differences.
We’ve been sequestered in our bedroom all day and it’s been wonderful.
That’s perfect, Lisa. I hope you can keep warm during these record temps. (I heard from Mom that Georgia broke another 100-year record low today.)
Lovely work.
I saw your link on Ellis Moore’s site (What’s In My Head) and was so charmed by the name, I had to come visit. Meets expectations. What a nice surprise. I’ll be back.
Blog on…
JamieDedes´s last blog ..BEYOND GOLDEN CLOUDS
Thank you so much, Jamie. I’m so glad you stopped by!
And I’m of course thankful that Ellis chose to share my link so that we could have the pleasure of meeting. What a nice surprise for me, as well.
aren’t they wonderful! i would love to walk through them. : )
Christina, I too like to walk through them when they’re dry and crispy. That scraping, rustling sound just says “autumn” like nothing else.
Talon has it… cocooning. That’s just what I like to do in winter. ‘Tis nice!
I may need to start officially calling this sleeping bag I have wrapped around my legs while I work my “cocoon.”
You’re funny with the old English contraction, Tony.
I love ginko leaves…
brandi´s last blog ..love note 9 and another freebie!
Me, too.
what great contrast on the already gorgeous ginkgo leaves.
Love that quote from Winnie the Pooh. Anticipation is a great thing, huh?
Wendy´s last blog ..GBBD – December 2010