My
wife and I just got back from our annual camping trip in Canada a few
days ago. We camped at our favorite camping spot,Ivy Lea Provincial
Campground along the St. Lawrence River, and once again heard some
great music at the Limestone City Blues Fest in Kingston, Ontario. We
have been doing that for about 16 years now, and we absolutely love
it. It is a wonderful ritual and is absolutely joyous. But before I
went camping, I had the opportunity to do a lot of walking around
Philadelphia and reflect on late August in my beloved hometown. I
have had the luxury of walking daily this summer, and I have really
been able to focus on what I can observe in West Mount Airy,
Germantown and Chestnut Hill. My normal walking routes take me along
and within a few blocks of Germantown Ave. I often go by a lot of the
same places, so I can note little changes from week to week and even
from day to day. And while I do not relish the high humidity and heat
that are characteristic of late August in Philly-that is why we go
north -there is also no denying the simple sheer beauty that is here
at this time of the year. And I know that beauty must be acknowledged
and given its due.
As I
walked down my block and around my neighborhood these last few weeks,
I was regularly amazed by the diversity of approaches to gardening
that I saw. There were some front gardens that have a few flower beds
at the edge with lilies or peonies of different colors and maybe an
iris or daylily or two. Then there are others that are flat out wild
and crazy-with things growing all over the place full of different
colors, different heights and different mixes of flowers There can be irises, peonies, celosias, marigolds, phlox, daisies, coneflowers
and more all jammed together and growing wildly. I love that each
gardener has his or her own style and color sense, and that side by
side you can have wildly different definitions of what it means "to
garden." It is a kind of "harmony out of chaos"
approach that is so emblematic of much of life in the Northwest part
of the city. It means that no block I walk is boring and
uninteresting. Each one has something to catch your eye and call
itself to your notice. They are individual. I also love the potted plants and the window
boxes that I see. They add color and nice touches to the properties
they adorn, and they brighten up the spaces. These, combined with the great
doors and windows in the Northwest, make my walks a visual treat.
Another
great thing about late August in Philadelphia is the array of birds
and butterflies that become more active and more
noticeable-especially hummingbirds, woodpeckers, monarchs, viceroys,
and goldfinches. Our backyard feeders and the feeders and birdbaths
in the neighborhood are dripping with these birds-downy and hairy
woodpeckers, the occasional nuthatch, chickadees, and the showy and
joyous goldfinches that are zipping all about. Late July and August
is when thistle flowers, butterfly bushes, coneflowers, manarda, and
sunflowers bloom in this region, and they are among the favored foods
of these flying wonders. So they are out in full force from mid-
August to mid- September. Our across the street neighbor has the
corner of her property covered in sunflowers, and there are always
goldfinches feeding on and resting on those sunflowers and traveling
back and forth to our thistle feeder. One of the joys of this summer
has been seeing and hearing little kids walking through the array of
sunflowers and excitedly marveling at the finches. To see the looks of
surprise and unabashed joy on the kids' faces has been wonderful. And
the butterflies in the backyard have been thoroughly delightful. We
have had several monarchs, a number of streaks that I cannot identity, a viceroy or two, and the beautiful Eastern
Swallowtail-one of my favorite butterflies. It is hard to be in a bad
mood when you slow down enough to watch hummingbirds and butterflies
flit about, land on a flower, and feed. It puts you in touch with all
the quiet minor amazements that are there in the world to be appreciated and savored. And that has to lift your spirits.
So
while I dislike the humidity and heat of Philly Augusts and go north
to the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River to escape
them, I can still appreciate the pure beauty that Philly summers
allow and that so many people use to lovingly provide beauty and
pleasure to the world. And if I can be still enough to acknowledge
that beauty here in the midst of late August, then I can acknowledge
it anywhere and have it with me anywhere I go. And that is truly a gift.
Enjoy the rest of your summer.
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