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Twilight is a very special time |
| Good Evening Everyone,
It is very dry in my little corner of Virginia, so much so that there are a couple of sizable cracks in the areas of bare soil. Lately, a few dried brown leaves have drifted down and scattered themselves across my otherwise well manicured lawn. It is far too early for that, I think, as a few more brown leaves come drifting down beside me. Hot and dry .. hot and dry .. that has been the theme for quite awhile, it seems. But then I am reminded that this is July. Dusk is one of my favorite times of the day. At that time the sky often has residual streaks of pink; sometimes an overall muted rosy glow lingers in the western .horizon. The lovely shadows of late afternoon have lent their special beauty to an earlier time of evening and are gone, but the edges of the trees remain highlighted against the dimly lit sky. The exquisitely lovely songs that the birds have been so joyously singing are changing now and softening into the gentle lullabies sung to their young ... and to whatever ear chooses to listen. Dusk is a lovely, peaceful time of the day. There is a favorite place that I like to be at this time of the day. It is not a 'survey my kingdom' sort of place , no, not at all. It is a small place at the top of a gently sloping area that looks down across an open space which is surrounded by trees. The trees on the right, which is east of my sitting space, are closely pine trees that seem to offer protection to my special area. Straight ahead, in the distant background, are a half dozen nicely spaced trees which allow the gaze to wander between them and beyond. And to the west of this special place are a collection of oaks and maples with a smattering of poplars and walnut trees and a few others thrown into the mix. It too is a special place, or will be as soon as I manage to get it cleared out again. It is a sanctuary for growing all manner of unwanted saplings and weeds which seem to grow faster than is decent and proper for saplings and weeds to grow. And now the fireflies begin to emerge. They must sleep in the grass during the day for they seem to rise right out of good mother earth at dusk and tend to hang out in the lower areas below the branch lines of the trees They stay close to the ground until later in the evening when they begin their slow upward migration into the treetops and beyond. It is a privilege to be able to watch this delicate and exquisite theater of the visual arts. The number of fireflies is dwindling now; every evening there are fewer and fewer of these mystical, magical, wonderful creatures. Lightening bugs need moisture and damp places in which to forage for food. It has been dry for so long now that they cannot maintain their numbers. Hopefully, the rain produced by the tropical storm heading north from Alabama and another one heading inland toward Florida will drift far enough north to relieve our parched condition. Perhaps the fireflies will return and with them the special magic of twilight. And so, goodnight. Aunt Maureen Love to everyone, Aunt Maureen |
