Autumnal Equinox

Seems like nature kicks it into high gear around the autumnal equinox and puts on quite a show with the wildflowers. The roadsides near my house in north Florida are positively smothered in flowers right now -- goldenrod, ageratum, asters, Spanish needles, morning glories, cypressvine morning glories, swamp sunflowers, and lots of other flowers that I don't know the names of. This fall display is every bit as impressive as the big spring bloom, but comes in a different palette. The fall palette is bright yellows, purples, and reds. And lots of butterflies add extra color as they flit from flower to flower. I have to remind myself to keep my eyes on the road as I drive the back roads on my way to work -- I am so drawn to the flowers and the insect activity. Ah, if I could only repeat a little of this design in my own gardens. Nature does it so effortlessly and it is always beautiful!

Discovery Launch

I am remiss in not posting about being a "Launch Guest" at the Kennedy Space Center for the August 28 launch of the Spaceshuttle Discovery. This is the first spaceshuttle launch that I have ever viewed in person. When I was a kid growing up in central Florida, I saw launches of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo projects from about 50 miles away. Of course, space exploration was something new and fascinating back then and we trotted outside to watch every launch from our front yard or the school yard. But I have not lived in central Florida for many years, so missed all of the space shuttle launches. Fate intervened last month when the launch had to be delayed and we just happened to be visiting family in Cocoa. My brother-in-law is friends with someone who works for the rocket manufacturer Pratt and Whitney. He was able to get us VIP passes to the space center where we observed the night launch from the grandstands three miles away! It was sensory overload -- the rockets turned the night into day, there was a loud roar, and I could feel the rumble in my chest! I just kept thinking about the astronauts sitting on top of that fireball and how brave (or foolhardy!) they are! I could see the fireball for a long time and even could see when the rocket boosters fell away. What a fabulous sight -- I have to say I got a little choked up by it!