Cheryl Richardson – I sat by the window like a little girl on Christmas Eve waiting for Santa Claus to arrive in his sleigh. All day long I’d been on the lookout for hummingbirds because it had been two days since I’d last seen one in the garden. It’s the same deal every year. As soon as Labor Day goes by, my mind starts bothering me with thoughts of summer coming to an end and the hummingbirds disappearing for another season.

As I looked out over the pots of salvia and blood-orange vermillionaire – plants the hummingbirds have loved most – I quieted my angsty mind and let myself be with the bittersweet sadness of endings. The herb garden is slowly going to seed. The squash and cucumber vines have made their final offering. And what was once endless blossoms of nasturtiums is now starting to dwindle and fade. Continue reading →