The scruffy season is upon us

here in central Florida.  For the life of me I can't say late Autumn or Winter when the day time temperature for the most part ranges from the mid 70's to mid 80's.  When I lived in the apartment (my first home here in Florida) I didn't see any natural green spaces.  The green spaces surrounding the apartment, even the [ark (Cranes Roost) were  manicured  and planted with flowers growing according to the season.  The park was so well maintained that scruffy looking vegetation was a no- no.

One of the things that drew me to this condo was the green space and knowing there would be nothing built behind me because on the other side of this stand of trees and underbrush is a golf course.

Of course I looked at this place for the first time in the Spring when all was green, lush and butterflies were flitting from flower to flower.

     This is my second season of scruff and my desire for sun shine all the time and flowers is taking a hit this year mainly because it has been uncommonly cloudy and we had our first cold spell around Thanksgiving when. it normally doesn't come until January. 
   Living here I am much more attuned to the seasonal changes  now that I can see the leaves turning from green to red and yellow and seeing them fall  from the branches. changes
    When I lived in the apartment, all I watched was the perfectly manicured palms in the garden below, but here  I see those too, but I also see pines and magnolias and many who names I do not know.  I am also taking note of what once was a really tall pine  that lost its top during a storm I was told before I moved here.  Slowly the bark is falling off and I am noticing for the first time that there is a diagonal crack in the trunk.  I won't be surprised  if one day I wake to see that the top most part of what is left has fallen.

 Keeping the gloom at bay;  here's my latest piece, watercolor on silk   The facing is on and sewn down, but not the sleeves and it needs a label.  Measures not quite 25" square. 

 

I have a larger piece 35" x 44" waiting to get sandwiched for it's turn under the needle.