One Of Those Hot Nights

It got hot here this week.  It was at least 92/93 degrees today which is right on the border of misery.  But hot days often make for pleasant evenings in Sacramento.  Tonight is one of those nights.  After we finished dinner and did the dishes I was drawn to the window by the sound of a couple mourning doves on one of the wires stretching from the telephone pole to our house.

I must have spooked them because they flew off and perched on another wire farther away.  I think they can get a better view of the sunset from these wires anyway.

While standing at the window gawking at the birds like I'd never seen flying creatures before, I realized that the setting sun made everything look better.  I grabbed my camera and went out to see if I could capture the feeling (I couldn't, but the following pictures were my attempt):

Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' - one of the most ubiquitous Japanese Maples 

I've had this 'Bloodgood' maple for years.  It was the first one I ever bought and I have abused, neglected, and mistreated this fella since Day 1.  I even removed about half of the tree this very spring.  One day I just felt like pruning stuff and I took a "what doesn't kill you will make you stronger" approach with this tree.  And if it died? Oh well.

And yet here it is, shining in the sunlight for me to enjoy as if I hadn't totally insulted it.

Looking just to the left of the Bloodgood, you can see the borrowed view of our neighbor's mature trees.  You can also see multiple power lines, cable lines and who knows what other kinds of lines those are.  It's a shame that our homes need to have these visual monstrosities in order for us to do things like blog on the internet.  But the greens, the reds, and the golden sunshine help distract from the wires if only for a few minutes.

Rosa 'Mr. Lincoln'

At the other end of the yard. the sun's rays had already gone behind the trees.  But I was captivated by the juxtaposition of the red rose petals against the weathered fence boards.  If I wanted to get all poetic here, I'd make an analogy about how two of the blooms have clearly passed their prime.  They are setting suns at the end of their path.  But the third bloom is still just a promise.  It has yet to open, it has yet to shine.  That bloom is like tomorrow's sun.  But I don't want to get all poetic.