Fifty & Free

In the year 1994, I adopted the slogan fifty and free as the fundamental definition for the remainder of my life.  Seven more years teaching school remained in my future but moving in the yet to be defined direction became my focus.  Six weeks prior to my 50th birthday, I used all of our savings to purchase thirty-six rural acres.  Walking toward the bedrock ridge from what was transformed into the lawn in front of our yet to be placed home, three miles of undeveloped forest would need to be crossed to reach a distant year-round road.  Of course other roads and signs of civilization are close at hand but we were on the edge of a wilderness.  Local legend has both wolves and mountain lions still living here while a moose and a bear have recently been reliably sighted.  Deer, turkeys and a skunk are common visitors to our yard.  I wanted a life lived in close contact with a natural world and that is what we have enjoyed.  We do not own the ridge but have permission to walk there.  The view is all ours.

Native plants became an interest.  We have transplanted a large number of them in our various gardens.  Not all were placed in a natural setting as can be seen by this Stokes aster growing close to the house.  It naturally occurs in the southeastern U.S. but this spot near the south facing wall of the house has proved satisfactory to its needs.  As has been the case with many native plants, several years in its new home passed before flowers were seen.  Perhaps the nearness to a low stone wall was part of our success.  Extra heat, moisture and dissolved minerals may have contributed to this plants continued existence here.

These artificially created Day lilies are far from native plants.  Their ancestry will trace back to orange colored "sewer lilies" but the human hand has worked tirelessly to create distinctive variations.  This Wineberry candy has been with us for many years.  The delicate thin line of purple coloration made this an early acquisition. 

Prairie blue eyes is usually very tall.  Climate limitations this year might be responsible for this more customary appearance.

Indian giver might be judged to be a horribly insensitive name but the white ruffled petal edges made this a must have variety.

 

Ivory edges is a great name for this attractive flower.

  Blueberry candy is brightly colored.  It also was photographed with a tiny insect visible on the flower.

Our years here have been rewarding beyond description but how much longer we can remain is a question without  an answer.  A recent appointment with a real estate agent was canceled at the last minute.  Perhaps another winter spent at some distance from the road is possible.