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The Golden Hour

July 31st, 2013

In the garden evening light is usually the best of the day, and the range of pleasure to be had from colour, scent and particularly birdsong is dramatic.

Monty Don – The Ivington Diaries

I was reading this book while sitting in the waiting room at the dentist yesterday.  This line in particular struck me, these are my thoughts exactly!  During evening light, what I call “the golden hour” you’ll often find me in the garden taking photos or walking around. In my mind, there is really no better time to see a garden or take a photo. The light softens from the harshness it had at noon and everything is bathed in a golden glow.
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I’m not the only one that enjoys this hour, it seems like the birds and dragonflies do as well. It’s probably not the light, but the mosquitos that draw them out. Of course the mosquitoes at times chase me back into the house!

What’s your favorite time to walk around the garden?

I’ll be posting about the 5×5 Challenge tomorrow, I was out all day and didn’t have enough daylight when I arrived home to take photos for my post.

10 Comments to “The Golden Hour”
  1. Joan on July 31, 2013 at 5:59 am

    Early morning, as the sun is coming up and I can watch the shadows shrink as the sun spreads over the fields. I love the bright glow as the sun first hits a new spot. Everything I snack on (peas, cherry tomatoes, beans…) seems to taste better first thing in the morning.

    Reply to Joan's comment

  2. Nebraska Dave on July 31, 2013 at 8:23 am

    I’m with Joan. Early morning is the best. To watch the dawn break and the night turn into day is great. Everything is waking up. The birds sing the best in the morning. It nice and cool as the twilight turns into morning sunshine. Critters are a little more active just before the rising sun comes up. Of course I do like evening and sunsets second best.

    Have a great Maine garden sunset day.

    Reply to Nebraska Dave's comment

  3. Lisa Sewell on July 31, 2013 at 10:38 am

    There is nothing I like more than enjoying a cup of early morning coffee on the front porch. The grass and flowers all look so healthy and rested early in the morning…before the hot summer sun takes its toll.

    Reply to Lisa Sewell's comment

  4. amy on July 31, 2013 at 11:30 am

    Twilight is my favorite part of the day….I can rest….on the porch….My son put in a water lily pond a little ways in front of there several years ago…..and I can listen to the frogs…. I strung twine all across the front of the porch this year and made a moon flower and morning glory screen…..and it is frequented by hummingbird and bee…..I work pretty hard…..and it is glory to be able to sit there without feeling anything pressing that needs doing.

    Reply to amy's comment

    • Lemongrass on July 31, 2013 at 12:00 pm

      amy, i like that idea make a vine screen on the porch. i will have to try making a bitter melon or passionflower one. enjoy your flowers.

      Reply to Lemongrass's comment

      • amy on July 31, 2013 at 12:10 pm

        Lemongrass~I think you will love it…..I have done this in times past…using various vines….hyacinth bean…love in a puff….honeysuckle….etc…..In addition to peace and quiet it provides privacy if you happen to live close to neighbors or a road…. as well as a shady bower from the afternoon sun.

        to amy's comment

  5. Maybelline on July 31, 2013 at 8:23 pm

    Late afternoon in the fall.

    Reply to Maybelline's comment

  6. kimberly on August 3, 2013 at 8:52 am

    Early mornings are for the garden. Evenings for admiring the light and walking all around the land.

    Reply to kimberly's comment

  7. Colleen on August 4, 2013 at 7:56 pm

    Early morning, about 6am. The birds are singing and the berries are fresh and sweet. The air is crisp and clean and quiet. If it’s a foggy morning the sound of the fog horns almost makes it seem as if I am in another land. It’s a piece of calm before the day begins.

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  8. Chris on August 6, 2013 at 1:02 pm

    Absolutely twilight hour is my favorite time to walk the gardens and I love watching the bats come out! :)

    Reply to Chris's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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