Thursday, July 30, 2015

There's a scattering of yellow and brown tulip poplar leaves in the yard.  Late July seems very early for the trees to begin shedding leaves.  I'd think they'd be in the height of summer photosynthesizing now. Also, the weather hasn't been overly hot and dry.  But we've had some storms, and perhaps that brought some leaves down early.

I watched a storm roll in yesterday from the west.  Dark gray clouds, lightning flashes along the underside of the clouds as well as searing sky to ground bolts.  It swept in, enveloping the building in a blanket of gray.  For a few minutes the rest of the world disappeared as rain gushed from the sky.  Then the rain eased, the buildings, trees and sky gradually reappeared, until there was a break in the clouds and sunlight streamed through.

There's a very large crapemytle tree on my usual route home.  Crapemyrtles have long, flexible trunks and branches.  When they're in bloom, and it rains, the flowers are heavy with water and the branches bend over the sidewalk, below waist height.  I ducked under the outer fringe into the space within, surrounded by blooms and scent.  I almost didn't stop, getting home was in the forefront of mind.  But I did stop, and stood in the space, breathing and taking in the sensations.  Then movement caught my attention, as a mockingbird flew in, flaring its brown and white patterned feathers as it landed on a branch a few feet away.  I think I was an unexpected sight, and after a few moments watching me, it flew away.

I continued on down the street, into a landscape teeming with birds.  Catbirds, pairs of doves, small flocks of robins and starlings, were all around in the yards, trees and shrubs.  Perhaps it was the time of day - a little later in the evening than usual.  Perhaps the storm front had brought some birds with it that are beginning to move with the seasons.  Whatever the cause, it was a very lively scene.