The last rose of summer

Blame it on the sudden change from warm sunshine and blue, cloudless skies to gray, chilly, dreary West Coast Wet. Oh, and being in time-muddled vacation mode. I thought today, September 20th, was the first day of Fall so I was set to publish a post wishing everyone a Happy Autumnal Equinox. I caught myself just in time when I read this about an hour ago. So today, I'll squeeze in one more "summer of 2008" post and save the autumn leaves for Monday.

Last evening I was looking through the camera lens at flowers in my favourite curbside garden near Granville Street and West Broadway.  Because I was concentrating on the showier orange, pink and purple blossoms, I almost missed a delicate, white rosebud unfurling. 

I will remember this flowers as "my" (it can be yours, too) last rose of summer 2008. Beauty and resilience in the midst of urban traffic, cared for by the kind and gentle gardener who lives in the brick building on the corner.

’Tis the last rose of summer

Left blooming alone;

All her lovely companions

Are faded and gone;

No flower of her kindred,

No rosebud is nigh,

To reflect back her blushes,

To give sigh for sigh.

The Last Rose of Summer (excerpt)
Thomas Moore, 1779-1852

September vacation

Ginkgo leaves on cherry wood (Letterpress stationery by Lynn Russell of Satsuma Press)

As I mentioned on The Berries, I'm enjoying a stay-at-home vacation this month. I'm going to use this as an excuse, if necessary, for even-more-than-the-usual irregular posting. Plus I really should be outdoors right now -- this week Vancouver is getting the summer sunshine and temperatures we should have had (instead of rain) in mid-to-late August.  If you don't hear from me again until the rain returns, well, you'll know why.