Before we even arrive at noteworthy color change in the local leaves, purple-lovegrass (a.k.a. tumble grass) has ripened. Now, with autumn’s breezes, florets with seeds attached are carried tumbling across fields and spiraling into the air like micro-tornados. Soon they’ll accumulate along fencerows or in corners, waiting to be collected with the season's fallen leaves. Those that are left for spring cleanup can sometimes be blown loose around Halloween to float through the air like lost spirits.
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| purple-lovegrass in summer
Photo by J. Harrington
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| airborne tumble grass florets
Photo by J. Harrington
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We’re pleased to report that last week’s seeking for potted aster plants was successful. We now have a pair perched in all their purple plumpness on the stoop steps. This all reminds us of the many shades of purple listed on the color thesaurus by Ingrid Sundberg.
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| shades of purple, color thesaurus |
Although we have tumble grass seed heads in abundance, we can’t report the same for milkweed. There are lots of stems that didn’t develop any seed pods, perhaps due to the summer’s drought? This, among other reasons, may help account for our lack of monarch butterflies this year. [The linked study attributes monarch population declines to the consequences of "climate change.”] We’ve only seen a few monarchs all summer. Next spring we’ll make an effort to plant some joe pye weeds and blazing star plants to attract any monarchs that may make it to our neighborhood. The biggest challenge we keep facing is remembering to order or buy plant before nurseries are all sold out.
Purple, Purple, Twilight Sky light. Purple as a king's cape Purple as a grape. Purple for the evening When daylight is leaving. Soft and purry, Gentle and furry, Velvet evening-time. Purple, Purple. Sky light Goodbye light. Dusky Musky Into night.
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Please be kind to each other while you can.
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