Fields of Gold


Hello m' sunny reapers,

Apologies for the brief break in transmission. Work's got in the way this past week or so. Annoyingly money's one thing I've been unable to grow in the garden on trees.  I'm back now with coffee and biscuits, September sunflowers, and golden fields. I'll try to keep this post relatively short and sweet so I can catch up on some of your blogs!

This field of sunflowers was spotted back in August. 

To me, the sunflowers are standing tall and cocky as can be, singing 'sun shiiiiinnnnnneeee' in a Liam Gallagher kind of way.

sunflower field

 The golden field above reminded me of a Gustav Klimt painting... I'm not sure which one, but not the one with that kiss. Klimt did paint one big sunflower. This is how I've felt this week... head down, working hard, watching over my little ones, a bit frazzled but still on my feet.

 
 
The Sunflower, Gustav Klimt, 1908
 
 

Vincent Van Gogh painted 'Wheatfield with a Reaper' in September 1889, the same year he created his famous sunflowers.

Van Gogh had written in a letter to his friend Emile Bernard -

'Old gold yellow landscapes - done quick quick quick and in a hurry, like the reaper who is silent under the blazing sun, concentrating on getting the job done'.


Personally, I cannot walk past a ripened hay field without tantric Sting's voice coming in my ears - 

You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in fields of gold

golden harvest field

Back at Long Mizzle, the sunflowers are still eagerly blooming -


 
sunflowers and dahlias

sunflowers at long mizzle

sunflowers in cornish garden

The spent flowers are deadheaded and tucked into the voodoo arch for the birds to feast on - 

sunflowers head decorated arch

 Each morning, and evening, the shadows quicken -


sunflowers in morning light

evening sunflowers

Like Van Gogh trying to hold onto the golden sun, I have cut some sunflowers to bring inside and attempt to paint-

autumn bouquet 

 
Sunflowers, verbena bonariensis, amyranthus, crocosmia seed heads, brambles, hawthorn berries, feather grass.

I'll let you know how it goes....

What are you up to this weekend?

Please send gossip.

Lulu xXx

 

Thank you for visiting !

Most recent posts can be found here -

https://longmizzle.blogspot.com/


 


Comments

  1. Elderberry-Rob17 September 2021 at 07:22

    What a lovely post, I do love sunflowers, they don't grow well for me. I think your posy is pretty and am looking forward to seeing your painting - hope you will share :)

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    Replies
    1. Lulu22 September 2021 at 01:53

      Thank you Betty :) I will share my splodges ! Lulu xXx

      Delete
  2. bahnwärterin17 September 2021 at 07:43

    the waiting has payed out - this is a wonderful post - you outdone yourself!!
    love it!
    sorry to hear that it was a hard week and wishing you some easy ones now. the pictures from your garden are beautiful with sunflowers and dahlias and all the other pretty greenery...... is it nasturtium climbing up the huge sunflower? genius!
    most artistic bouquet - can´t wait to see the painting of it - no pressure of cause ;-D
    its extremely wet here - did not much apart from deadheading, killing some snails and rose eating caterpillars and harvesting zucchini......
    the house gets some much needed love instead ;-D
    wish you a very golden weekend!! xxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu22 September 2021 at 01:57

      Thank you Beate :) The nasturtiums are hiding the sunflower supports - a rickety fence made from hazel branches. They grow like weeds here, so I have put them to use. RIP snails and rose eating caterpillars (how dare they!). Enjoy your house loving. Lulu xXx

      Delete
  3. kjsutcliffe17 September 2021 at 08:30

    You'll remember me when the west wind moves
    Upon the fields of barley
    You can tell the sun in his jealous sky
    When we walked in fields of gold

    I love/d that album. Actually it was a cassette (hark at that .... what is a cassette!!?) I bought for myself in Kingsbridge - the little Woolworths, what memories. It takes me back to Devon every time I hear it (not that I have heard recently - time methinks to winkle out the old cassette player - oh wait, we don't have one, thank goodness for the tinternet haha)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu22 September 2021 at 02:02

      Arrhhh Kate, I remember saving up for a whole year at a time to then buy a single cassette at Woolworths! I had a rather good cassette collection, including those Woolies purchases and mix tapes from friends until 2001 - when some scamp rudely nicked them from my car. Like you, the cassette player has long gone. What would we do without t'internet! xXx

      Delete
  4. Cherie17 September 2021 at 09:41

    Just typed my reply and the ruddy computer made it disappear....Starting again..... Love that song and those Amaranth always remind me of budgie's millet sprays. Our solitary sunflower is only just opening and I can't wait till it unfurls its petals and shows us its beautiful face

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu22 September 2021 at 02:04

      Ooooh, that ruddy computer Cherie!!! Hover a wooden mallet over it and it might start behaving. Now you say that about amaranth, I remember my grandad's budgie having millet sprays. Enjoy your sunflower. Lulu xXx

      Delete
  5. Ellie Foster17 September 2021 at 14:14

    Dear Lulu
    What an evocative post for late summer turning to autumn. Your sunflowers are looking lovely. I have the perennial sunflowers which are happily blooming at the back of the border, giving me a bit of sunshine.
    Jobs for the weekend? To empty my compost bin and apply some as mulch. Non gardening jobs? To do some crafting.
    Hope the painting is going well.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu22 September 2021 at 02:07

      Hello Ellie, how lovely to have the perennial ones. I wonder if the slugs are as fond of those ones? Or maybe they're a bit tougher? Hope the mulching went well and you had sun with your crafting. Lulu xXx

      Delete
  6. Polyester Princess18 September 2021 at 02:44

    I cannot walk past a sunflower field (or a ripened hay field for that matter) without taking photographs. That Klimt painting is stunning. I do love Gustave Klimt!
    Long Mizzle Garden is looking wonderfully misty and Autumnal and how fabulous is your voodoo arch. You are giving me ideas! Can't wait to see the painting. xxx

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    Replies
    1. Lulu22 September 2021 at 02:11

      Hello Ann, Klimt's paintings are wonderful aren't they. He really knew how to bring some gold bling! It is the first year we've had specifically a vooddo arch (made from trimmed Buddleja) - useful for both the outdoor cucumbers and hanging weird things from. Lulu xXx

      Delete
  7. Mike Perry18 September 2021 at 09:49

    Summer is slipping away now and at quite a speed, but how wonderful are your sunflower photos giving off their warmth. All good wishes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu22 September 2021 at 02:11

      Thank you Mike, glad you like them. Hope you're having a good week. Lulu xXx

      Delete
  8. Jules18 September 2021 at 22:34

    Beautiful, Beautiful sunflowers. Please let me know when you find that money tree :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu22 September 2021 at 02:12

      I'm working on it Jules! Thanks luverly xXx

      Delete
  9. Winter Peach Photography20 September 2021 at 01:29

    Hi Lulu, I too hear Tantric Sting when I walk through a field of barley. We saw a beautiful sunflower field on Anglesey but unfortunately it was alongside a busy road without a footpath so I could only photograph it through the car window (not the best). Love Klimt’s sunflower. That’s a good analogy for motherhood…I hope work offers some pleasure for you. I look forward to seeing your painting of that gorgeous arrangement! xxx

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    Replies
    1. Lulu22 September 2021 at 02:17

      Glad it is not just me that hears tantric tones Claire. Oh what a shame there wasn't a path by that sunflower field. I have the same frustration when I see golden fields of Rapeseed or daffodils in the distance and can't work out how to get to them! Painting takes my mind off work. Lulu xXx

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  10. Sandi Magle20 September 2021 at 09:59

    Totally loving your garden photos and your references. Van Gogh has always been a favorite of mine...luckily the collection at the Art Institute here in Chicago has so many of the Impressionists as the women of wealth purchased the 'vulgar' paintings of the newest trends during the late 1800's. Plus we get all the main shows...and one can't appreciate Van Gogh until they see the piles of paint and bare canvass that his troubled mind left on his canvasses. You can here the wind and see the motion, without all the 3-d effects of the latest video presentations. Thanks for showing such rich photos and provocative commentary. Made me smile! Sandi

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    Replies
    1. Lulu22 September 2021 at 02:25

      How lucky Sandi to have the Chicago Art Institute at hand. I miss the big shows you get in a city. I visited the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam a few years ago. Yes, nothing quite prepared me for the bright colours and thickness and rhythm of paint. I found it quite sad to see when his mind had started to deteriorate though, as the paint strokes became more fervent and desperate somehow. But what a joy those golden paintings are. Lulu xXx

      Delete
  11. Vix20 September 2021 at 11:01

    Hooray, I'm glad you popped up in my feed, Lulu! I was wondering where you'd gone.
    Cor, look at your lovely garden! I peeped out of the window yesterday morning and spotted a family taking photos of our sunflowers and thought of you and your surrepticious snapping of your neighbourhood gardens.
    Do share photos if you create a Van Gogh masterpiece! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu22 September 2021 at 02:29

      Haha, yes I'd be one of those passing weirdos taking photos of your garden Vix! I plan our walks to coincide with nice gardens and good plants. I shall share my splodgings but it will be no masterpiece :0 Lulu xXx

      Delete
  12. The Small Fabric Of My Life22 September 2021 at 09:55

    Lovely to catch up Lulu. I love that Sting song. Sunflowers are such cheery flowers. I spotted one growing on our local beach a few weeks ago.
    See you soon,
    Jane x

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    Replies
    1. Lulu2 October 2021 at 10:06

      Cheery as cheery can be Jane :) That's a brave sunflower, growing on a beach! Lulu xXx

      Delete
  13. Kezzie27 September 2021 at 14:27

    This post makes me really happy. All the gold and beautiful it is! The sunflowers are a joy and I love it when the fields look like this!x

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    Replies
    1. Lulu2 October 2021 at 10:07

      Golden beams and happy fields to you Kezzie :) Lulu xXx

      Delete

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