WHEN ASTERS BLOOM
I really
enjoy the period starting, now. The waning days of summer are some of the best
days. Not too hot and not too cold; days and nights feel about right. The hints
of fall are more frequent. Summers’ bounty is put away and cover crops are
sown. It just feels good when leaves on the mountain begin to glow. I know what
is in store; but that is two and a half months away. I don’t look forward to
that. We will most likely pay for the previous mild winter. We will not get
lucky two years in a row.
New
England Asters are one of my favorite wildflowers; they tend to brighten your
day when not much else is going on. These late bloomers are a sure sign that
autumn is near. Flowers of purple or pink blowing in the breeze; often side by
side. Pick a favorite color, it’s a hard choice; but both are prettier than
goldenrods. Yes, they brighten the roadsides and fields as most other flowers
fade away. We used to have a beautiful stand about a half of a mile away from
my house. They were always a stunning sight against a cut stone wall. Purple
and pink flowering plants were nicely intermixed. The state road cut them down
a few years ago; just as they were beginning to bloom. They never came back,
nothing there now but the cut stone wall. Yep, like I always say; can’t have
nothing good around here. Oh, well; there are more out there. Just like
everything else; you just have to go find them. Nothing stays the same;
especially in these parts.
I have
been getting that sick, deep in the gut feeling more and more. Every day I see
more open space where trees once stood and critters actually lived. I am
referring to the beginnings of the construction of Route 48 in Tucker County.
Yes, it makes me nauseous to see the destruction in one of the few undeveloped regions
we have left. I really don’t like to think about where I believe it may go once
it crosses Rte. 72. Yep, every time I find an area to my liking; something
happens to it. That something is never good. I’m really glad that I’m getting
old enough to not let this stuff really bother me. I am also glad that I was
able to enjoy the things the mountains had to offer; decades ago. I guess I’ve
been there and done it. I’m grateful I did. I really do not see good things
ahead. I only see a wind-swept road that will never be able to be maintained.
That is it.
Truthfully,
in the grand scheme of things ahead I do not worry much about what is going to
happen. I just hate the destruction of reasonably pristine areas in the name of
progress. I just ask who the progress will benefit. I still cannot see who
benefitted from all of the windmill projects. I imagine if someone actually
did; they live far, far away. They sure do not have to stare at the cluttered
skyline every day.
Oh well,
enough is enough. The way I figure it now; no matter if you are looking at a
season in the year or a place in your life: When The Asters Bloom; is not a bad
place to be.
This is my September 2017 article for Two-lane Livin (c)2017 High Virginia Outdoors All Rights Reserved Photo (c) High Virginia Images All Rights reserved
