Two days ago I posted a pic of what I presume will be the last Geranium bloom of the year. I enjoy that last gasp of summer, even if it’s a singular flower making little impact in the garden.

As that flower will soon fade, so will that healthy looking Geranium foliage (self-pat on back for cutting them back hard, post-bloom). You can see below the decline has commenced.

The fall garden feels different this year. Yes, it’s the best season for my display of grasses and later blooming perennials. But I can’t kick the feeling that by this time next year, my daughter will be away at college (as I’m sure I’ve mentioned previously, it could be as far south as Georgia and as far west as California) and there’s a good chance my son will relocate to wherever the sports reporting job takes him, post college graduation.

We’re looking at a sort of empty nest for the first time in a long time. While beyond thrilled to see what the world has next for my two kids and beyond blessed in so many damn ways, it’s hard to fend off the impending sadness knowing it will be much quieter around the Markowski household.