Blogger Jeni Rankin wrote: “Now is a time of re-discovering the wonder of the natural world, remembering all that I had forgotten and seeing things I have never noticed before.”
Some bloggers blow me away with their nature writing. Mind you, it’s writing that would never use terms like ‘blow me away’ — and that’s a good thing!
Lavinia Ross and Andrea Stephenson write about the seasons — the seasons of the year, of place and life.
Take, for example, this post about August on Andrea’s blog, Harvesting Hecate:
“August is a month of waiting. Not the desperate waiting of winter, when you can no longer stand the darkness, but the sweet longing for something anticipated to come. I look at the calendar and am always surprised that the month isn’t yet over.
“There are days in August that seem poised on the edge of time. Perfect days, like this one, when the sun is hazy and still low in the sky, giving a blurred luminosity to the light. A day when the earth seems to be holding its breath. When I feel myself expand out into the silence and every step is like a sigh.”
A continent away, at Salmon Brook Farms in the US, Lavinia Ross observes each month’s visitors and blessings, even a creature some people fear — the garden spider:
“With luck, someday this autumn I may catch her tending her web, freshly festooned with the night’s dew. It has been too hot and dry lately to see these arachnid silk Brigadoons. Damp, sunlit mornings can sometimes reveal an entire dazzling city of webs, which fades into invisibility in the heat of the day.”
Their writing is multi-layered. In her August post, Andrea writes:
“Lately I have been feeling the speed of the world. I’m young enough to have used computers for two thirds of my life; old enough to remember when shops closed on Sundays, when letters were written by hand to far-flung penfriends, when, if you needed information, you had no choice but to visit a library. Lately, the world often seems ‘too much’ and I long to return to what I remember as a slower time.”
And Lavinia says:
“As occurs with most things in life, beauty and goodness come packaged along with assorted trials and tribulations; August was no exception….”
“August brings day after day of heat and drought; temperatures in the 90s and 100s are common, with few interludes of coolness… Dust devils, heat-spawned vortices known by different names around the world and thought to be the spirits of the dead in some cultures, spin lazily across the broad, barren farmlands, carrying the fertile soil of Oregon skyward until the bright blue above is stained with a tan haze.”
Congrats, Lavinia and Andrea. And thank you.
~~
This post is dedicated to the memory of Jeni Rankin, aka The Hopeful Herbalist, who also lifted my days with lyrical poetry, prose and pictures of life at her seaside cottage in Scotland.
These snippets wet my appetite for good writing. I already follow Andrea and will explore Lavinia. Thanks Cynthia.
Thank you, Writing to Freedom!
Thank you Brad!
Thank you so much for your post, Cynthia! I am honored!
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
Thank you, Chris!
My pleasure, Lavinia 😀
Much appreciated Chris.
My pleasure, Andrea 😃
Beautiful Writing.. too darn right! The quotes stirred involuntary emotional reactions – always a great sign- bypassing your guarded consciousness and going straight for the viscera! The ‘I remember life when’ and ‘August’ particularly beautiful.
Right on! Well said.
Andrea’s writing is both beautiful and inspiring.
Thanks so much!
Beautiful, indeed! Thanks for sharing…
Thank you for reading, Bette!
Thank you Bette.
I couldn’t agree with you more; both are exceptional writers about the natural world, and draw you in so you may know – feel – what they experience.
Thank you, Jeanne! Andrea is an exceptional writer. I enjoy her blog and draw inspiration from it.
Thanks Jeanne.
Wonderful pieces! Thanks so much for sharing them!
Thank you for reading them! 🙂
My pleasure!
I’m glad you enjoyed them, thank you.
Loved how descriptive this was! A very enjoyable read. I have also had an awesome encounter with that garden spider. Their bite is just as striking as their colour! Thank you for sharing. Enjoy what is left of summer. Susan
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Fortunately I have never been bitten by one. Thanks for reading!
I loved Lavinia’s description of her encounter with the spider and the ‘silk Brigadoons’!
Yes! Beautiful writing. I follow Andrea and will check out Lavinia.
Thank you, Coastal Crone!
Thanks Jo!
Such lovely writing indeed – it does slow you down and pull you inward doesn’t it. I appreciate that very much!
Thank you for reading!
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed them.
Lovely Cynthia! Thank you.
Thank you for reading!
Thank you Felicity!
Very touching post, Cynthia.
Thank you for reading, Helen!
I’m happy you enjoyed it Helen.
A lovely tribute to Jeni and to the fine writing of Lavinia and Andrea.Time for me to check out their latest posts.
Thank you for reading, Gallivanta!
Thanks Gallivanta!
Love these ladies!
Thank you, Jill!
Aw thanks Jill 🙂
Beautiful writing. Thank you!
Thanks for reading Jennie.
You are welcome, Andrea.
Thank for you for reading, Jennie!
My pleasure, Lavinia!
Thanks so much for this wonderful compliment Cynthia. I also adore Lavinia’s writing and I’m sorry that I didn’t get to know Jeni.
Thank you, Andrea! I find your writing inspirational. It is simply beautiful! 🙂
It is sad that Jeni left us all too soon.
Thanks Lavinia 🙂
Thank you for sharing these lovely pieces. I will be paying them a visit:-)
Thanks so much for reading.
Thank you reading, Murtgah’s Meadow!
I have not dropped by Lavina’s blog recently. She comes around now & then… but I have not be focusing on garden writing recently… too busy keeping up with it. — Oscar
I know what you mean about being too busy keeping up with it, Oscar. This summer has been overwhelming as I have been able to do more outside. 🙂
I hear you, brother.
Reblogged this on blogging807.
You nailed it, Cynthia! Andrea and Lavinia write so beautifully, but in very different ways–I am always pleased to see new posts from them!
Me too, Kerry!
Thanks so much Kerry.
Thank you, Kerry!
What a wonderful tribute to poor Jeni! I love reading both Lavinia’s and Andrea’s beautiful prose as they are able to put into words what I can only feel. Thank-you Cynthia.
Thank you for reading, Clare! I love Andrea’s writing, too.
Jeni left us all too soon.
Yes she did.
Thank you Clare.
My pleasure, Andrea.
i agree with what you say about those excellent cantors of gardens and seasons .
In friendship
Michel
Thank you for reading, Michel!
Thanks Michel.
Oh I agree .. both those girls write fabulous posts. Love their blogs. Dear Jeni .. greatly missed
Thank you, Julie! 🙂
Thanks Julie.
Lovely! K D
Thank you, K.D.!
Your welcome and my pleasure! K. D. 🙂
Thanks K D.
thank you for sharing, I need to check them out and read some of their wisdom. I am sorry your blogger friend passed….what a gifted woman:-)
Thank you for reading, Robbie!
Jeni will be missed.
Thank you Robbie.
Thanks for sharing this here, Cynthia. I love Andrea’s writing and follow her blog, so I’m heading over now to find out more about Lavinia.
I’m so very sorry to hear about Jeni Rankin
Thank you for reading, Dianne!
Jeni left us all too soon.
Thanks Dianne, I’m sure you’ll love Lavinia 🙂
Cynthia, this was a heartwarming post merging the brilliant nature writings of Andrea and Lavinia! 😀 I’m a huge fan of Andrea’s writing and know I’m in for a treat every time I approach her posts however I have not come across Lavinia before…off to her blog now. 😀❤️
Thanks so much Annika 🙂
Thank you for reading, Annika!
Agreed! Great article!
Thank you, Thomas.
This was an excellent example of showcasing wonderful bloggers. I am so happy to have discovered your blog. Thanks for sharing in such a thoughtful, caring manner.
Am just starting with writing at this platform…any advice…..thank you 🙂
True – you just feel good when reading it. Thanks for sharing!
And thank you for replying, Jonathan!
I want a day such as the one from August. Over here a day in mid August is like an oven, and you are a Baguette… you come out very crispy at the end.
But I like the writing. It managed to get my mind into “relax” mod.