October in Canberra (Australia) – We scent a change. Spring is so poetic.

It has been six days since Canberra recorded an infection of Covid-19. Canberrans send their best wishes for the gentleman’s recovery. With only one active case in my small city, my attention has turned to living.

It has been a relatively wet and stormy month in the national capital – the wettest October in 44 years. On those days when the sun shone, I focused on my garden and on my mosaic projects. For these reasons, and due to magpie hazards, I have had little time for exploration, but it being spring, there are always flowers, and wouldn’t you know, not one rainy day photo in sight. Here’s October.

From The Wellspring

Days stretch longer in hope renewed
to light upon fragrant petals wrapped in honeydew
and I am duty bound to raise this goblet to my sweet lips.
Gulp the scent of spring
pulled from the depths of cold storage.

Before day is done.

Darkness pools inside my veins and oxygenates.
Offers softest caress from the universe –
so gentle, so profound, so innocent of malice or greed.
while perfume swirls in sweet rebuke for time wasted.

Before darkness fades. discovery.

We sense a change – that day when we can welcome home
faraway family and friends.
And for my Victorian friends,
a reminder of that commitment uttered.

“Not on my shift [more Covid deaths].”

This is my response to the Changing Seasons – October 2020 photo challenge, the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – What A Treat, and my Friday song day.  My song choice is a nod to the rainy days we have been having lately and also the loneliness that many have been feeling due to being separated from their loved ones during the pandemic. Finally, I want to send my heartfelt congratulations to my countrymen in Victoria who have worked so tirelessly to bring their Covid daily infection numbers back to single digits. Hooray. Sing it with me.

Take care, everyone. Stay safe, stay sane and stay kind.

Kind Regards.
Tracy.

PS. I have more photos of the magpie chicks to come later.

79 thoughts on “The Changing Seasons – October 2020”

  1. Thank you for this life-affirming post to start my day. It’s so good to hear that Canberra and Victoria have the virus under control, a testament to what is possible when people act for the good of others.

    Liked by 4 people

  2. What an optimistic post focusing on a better future while celebrating what’s fresh and good about your spring. This must help. As we hunker down for winter, optimism is in short supply.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Margaret. I didn’t realise I was writing an optimistic post! It has been very tough for my Victorian friends as they haven’t been able to go more than 5km from their homes. I hope they will be rewarded in future by the inclusion of more green space and wilderness-type parks in urban areas. This is sounding more and more like a human right to me. One shouldn’t have to go on holiday to get that experience.
      I really feel for everyone in areas where the virus has got out of control. I hope you can manage some outdoor time this coming winter. I’ve realised how essential it is to my mental health.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. We’re lucky, living out of town. Fresh air will only be limited by the weather, which isn’t great just now. But open space isn’t a problem. You’re right. It’s essential.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Tracy, the air of Delhi throughout the years hovers around unhealthy. From Oct to Feb it goes to very hazardous. The main reasons are waste and biomass burning, construction work, dust on roads snd vehicles. Trade winds bring pollutants of farm fires from neighbouring states. After the rice is harvested, farmers set fire to the fields to get rid of the stubble. And our govt every year makes the right noises, imposes curbs on private vehicles but never gets to the root cause. Our lungs are in a bad state and that is the reason contracting covid in Delhi is a double whammy.
        Sorry for the rant.

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Despite our envy we congratulate you on your virus control. Here we still suffer fools in denial who deny its strength. Enjoy your beautiful spring complete with songbirds and blossoms. Lived your verse and images

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Tina. It was not my intention to boast. Whatever the choices made, the costs are considerable, but denial has not been an issue except among a minority. Good luck to you all. Take care. At least, I hope fall and winter is kind to you in your little patch.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. I love your photos but the poem even more. Bear says she hopes you’re able to bear the warm seasons and wants to reassure you winter will return. I tried explaining that not everyone loves winter as much as she does, but, you know, she’s a dog. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    1. To think, Martha, that most of my earlier verse was about the sadder aspects of life and death! It is a good change.
      Bear means well, Martha. I totally respect her point of view. Anyone would after seeing her rolling around in the snow. 🙂

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    1. My pleasure, Natalie. I didn’t set out to write a positive post but I do so love my mosaics and getting outdoors that I couldn’t contain my enthusiasm.
      Take care. I hope you have some nice weather this coming winter so that you can enjoy some time outside.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. What a lovely array of flowers you’ve chosen to photograph. I love Magpies for their distinctive call alone.
    I guess you, like me, is always wary of taking photos from under the tree boughs and bird locations. One of these days I’m going to get a splat of bird poop on my glasses – one of the few good points about having to change from contact lenses to glasses in 2010 – eye protection when doing bird photography.

    Yes, we are all euphoric in Victoria at the minimal COVID numbers and a final break from lockdown. Still, all Australians need to be vigilant as we really don’t know how many asymptomatic folk are out there. If all states (including mine in Victoria) can get down to zero daily cases and zero deaths, I think we might have a good chance at making a move to ‘COVID normal’ before Christmas. Now would that be wonderful?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Well that is interesting, Vicki. I am completely unable to take photos with my glasses on. Did you have to get used to that? I don’t worry about getting pooped on. That’s what my T-shirt is for. 🙂 I did get pooped on one day from a bird flying overhead though. I didn’t have a camera with me then, lol.
      I am always going to be rather risk-averse as far as covid goes. Most Canberra seem to think they are immune! I don’t think we have got it under control in nearby NSW metro. NSW should be rightly proud of its contract tracing but it is not a no-death strategy and people have died. Still, I don’t live in Sydney so I have no idea how cautious people are being there. I do hope Melburnians can have Christmas with their families, but you’re right. We all have to be sensible. Hopefully the weather gods will shine upon us and gatherings can be held outside.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Love, love, love your nature photos. The ones with the dark backgrounds, and even lack of ’empty spaces’ look so divine and lush. And your words! It’s a nice break from all the reading I do, brevity in an age when there’s so much talking and noise is appreciated. Thanks ^^

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Lani! Often I have better photos which don’t make the cut because they look like they could have been taken at any time of the year. There has to be something about them that relates specifically to the season. So I am glad that you weren’t put off by the busyness of some of them. 🙂
      Those dark photos were a real surprise to me because there was barely any light in the sky and it was quite windy so taking a clear photo with a low shutter speed was very challenging. I had no idea that moth was on the lilac until I saw it through my lens. It’s small body was on full vibration. It was special, at least to me.
      I am smiling here because you get a longer reply than the actual post.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Hahahhaa. 😀 I know what you mean about those surprises. I took a photo of a dove in mid-flight once when I was focused on the building architecture. Kids and animals are good at photo bombing 😛

        Liked by 2 people

  15. Wonderful post, Tracy. I’m so glad your city is emerging from the brutal round of covid. Your images of spring are wonderful, too. Now that we’re deep into autumn here (we’ve had frost and snow is in the forecast), it makes me happy to see the reminders of a new season. Take care.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. All the Spring flowers such a tonic for one’s spirit. A red rose! Lilacs! And many flowers that are new to me. Thank you Tracy! Your Corvids look a little like our Eastern Jays noted for Its opportunistic thievery. Some campers call them robbers birds becauseb some of them swoop in and take food brazenly off camper’s tables.
    Have you recently read Tennyson’s “The Lady of Shalott”? The Lady is socially isolating in her tower which ‘’empowers’’ her and she has no one. So she weavers her web night and day.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Sid. Our magpies are very honest birds. However, they still get hungry and will sit on the back of a chair staring at diners hoping for some tucker. 🙂 The bird with the red eye is a spring/summer visitor, an Eastern Koel, ie. a cuckoo. Our wattle birds will be laying their second clutch of eggs soon so the koels have timed their arrival well.
      I have read “The Lady of Shallot”, but I needed to re-read it before responding to your comment. When read against the background of Covid, it has an extra poignancy about it. I look forward to listening to Loreena MacKekennitt singing the poem. Has anyone made a movie based on the poem? If not, someone should.

      Like

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  20. Well, I’m loving your floral photos, Tracy. They’re a real treat. It’s amazing how the shadowy background highlights the flowers. I don’t have too many shadowy backgrounds in my garden, so I did enjoy yours.
    It’s wonderful that Victorians have been let out. I have my fingers crossed that their success continues.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Jane. My shadowy backgrounds are a result of my disorganisation. It is often late afternoon or worse by the time I get around to my daily walk with my camera.

      Also, if you load your photos on to your computer, you can use Windows Photos to edit the exposure or apply a vignette to the background. I don’t know what the Apple equivalent is I’m afraid.

      I hope they are able to keep the infection numbers down in Victoria too. There will be riots if they don’t.

      Like

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  22. May I recommend Loreena MacKekennitt “The Lady of Shalott” on YouTube. There are many versions but one of them is over ten minutes and she sing the entire poem.

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  23. It’s always so lovely to see signs of spring even as we’re headed for winter here! Your flower photos are glorious and I also particularly like the dark shots – they’re very poetic.
    Your numbers amazes me! Well done all of you!
    And I look forward to more magpie photos. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Hi Tracy, yes, we’re in lockdown again from tomorrow on, although only in part: schools, kinder gardens and all shops will stay open this time. Will see how that works out. I’m stocked with food and art supplies. 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  25. Such a positive month it turned out to be. I loved your poem and of course the beautiful Maggie’s. But what I found stunning was that blue rhododendron and the lilac, I virtually smell it from here. I agree, well done all the Melburnians. If only other countries could take a lead from them. Keep walking it keeps us sane and healthy.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. We were so lucky,no hail in our southern GC. Just 8mm of welcome rain. But the son in Helensvale, northern GC had hail the size of cricket balls go through his awning, perfect weather today though

        Liked by 1 person

  26. A grand post — beautifully photographed flowers and birds, a bit of poetry and a song I can’t get out of my head!!! I’m reading this on Election Day 2020 in the U.S., and it may be a rainy day indeed if my candidate doesn’t win. But I’m looking for a ray of sunshine from election woes to coronavirus weariness. Thanks for cheering me up!

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Wonderful photos and inspiring words! So glad things are coming under control there and you can go back to LIVING!! Saskatchewan numbers are increasing, but our corner still seems to be holding its own with 2 cases. Look forward to your Magpie Baby Pics.

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