Friday, March 25, 2011

In the clover

In spring I photographed this very bank, when it was shimmering white with onion weed. Now, in autumn, red clover is sprinkled around, with its fulsome flowers passing into seed heads.
On the way back from my walk a couple of days ago, I noticed a splash of colour amidst the clover. Can you see it, in the centre of this photo?


I moved closer, to discover . . .

Here it is, the last of the monarchs (or so I imagined; a variation on the last swallow of summer). Then I saw a fat bumble bee, feasting on the flowers, but I wasn't quick enough to catch it.

This week I heard that the godwits had departed.

Before flying off, the monarch gave me a display of its bright interior.

Autumn: it's a poignant time; a season of endings, with flashes of richness.

5 comments:

AM said...

love the monarch.. they've a beautiful tawny-orange shade... the pictures are lovely..an essense well captured :)

Anonymous said...

What a lovely thing to see this cold day up here, Juliet - the monarch. It will be months yet before they grace our gardens and trees, but, here I sit with hope for those days.

Our monarch migrate to one location in Mexico. It is amazing how they travel, thousands of miles to their singular location. Two garden club members have made the trek to the mountain village where they winter over and have treated the club to pictures of what they have witnessed.

Life is grand.

Juliet said...

Thank you both for your comments. How amazing to think of your monarchs migrating to Mexico, Penny!
Evidently NZ monarchs don't fly very far, but cluster together in trees over winter. As long as the temperature is over 10 degrees Celsius, they are not bothered.
Those clusters in the trees in Mexico must look very beautiful.

growMama said...

i love red clover..such a mineral powerhouse and a soothing brew. One of my trans-seasonal favourites. And appreciate the nz monarh info in your comment juliet...we still have 2 in chrysalis downstairs. Latebloomers!

Anne Ruffell said...

I remember the monarchs from my childhood as their markings are so vivid and distinctive. They liked one particular shrub in the garden which had feathery pink flowers as I remember. They used to cover the bush. Happy memories!