The quote from Harvey Miller I shared in yesterday’s post got me to thinking about dew.
As Miller indicated, the mountains enjoy a heavy dew. Earlier this summer when we were experiencing really dry conditions the dew never failed to leave it’s needed moisture behind.
Each morning just after daylight I let the chickens out. Those dry days that were worrisome for the garden caused me to really pay attention to the morning dew.
I always put on The Deer Hunter’s big pig boots before going out to the chicken coop and as I walked through the grass I’d notice the wet streaks left on the tops of my toes. After releasing the birds and feeding them I take a more leisurely walk back to the house.
Stopping here and there to open the green house door, check a plant, prop up something that’s fallen over, and even eat a pre-breakfast snack of ripe tommy-toes. The miraculous dew can be found on the plants too.
The days following a watering by hand event in the garden during the dry days showed even more moisture around each plant. I enjoyed thinking about how the plants suffering from lack of rain and heat would suck up all the water we gave them of an evening and go on to enjoy the coolness it brought during the darkness of night as it was increased by the dew.
I’ve certainly talked about dew over the years of writing Blind Pig and The Acorn, but it’s typically been in a bad light—such as dew sores. To read more about the dread and worry of dew sores go here.
I’d already been thinking of the miracle of dew, but Miller helped distill my thoughts.
Last night’s video: How to Make 14 Day Pickles – The Best Sweet Crunchy Pickle in Appalachia.
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Nature is so beautiful & perfect if we would just stop interfering.
I feel so sorry for those who just move from home to car to work & back, never noticing the wonders all around them.
I can’t resist the dew. I can’t resist being barefoot in any weather or season. When I get back to my yard after walking my dog in the warm months, I take off my shoes and walk the rest of the way barefoot. In cold weather or even snow, I need to feel my feet touch the earth every day, I just can’t resist. I am descended from women who grew up in Appalachia and my grandmother was the same. It feels healing to me.
Once again…timely post…thanks as always
Thank you for your faithful writing. It’s like a little touch of morning dew to read your blog. I’m in my mid 70’s and living far from my West Virginia home. All the old folks are gone and so I carry only memories with me. But you’re like pulling up a front porch chair with an old friend.
Well written and yes, I think morning dew is magical looking too.
Playing cards with my grandma and mom was always fun. Being from MO they had many of your sayings. When my mom would get a point she’d say “well, the blind sow picked up an acorn”. When I saw the title of your blog I knew the meaning and laughed. It brought back good memories. Grandmas farm days sound like yours.
Thank you.
Neta Kerby
I like what you said here about dew. It is something we take for granted, we give it no thought or appreciation, or even consider it’s purpose. God is so good to us! He even thought of the dew to bless us with!
Donna. : )
https://youtu.be/fHLJGxgi3qs
ED,
That song was a nice addition to Tipper’s post today. I have always enjoyed Tom T. Hall’s songs about life, such as “Watermelon Wine.” So sorry that we lost Tom in August of last year. He and his wife sure wrote some “soul searching” songs about life.
The real miracle of dew is magnified by how the plants adapt to it. Years ago in a dry spell, I noticed the wetness around the base of corn stalks. The leaves are arranged to maximize the collection of dew and direct it to the roots. Also the waxy coating on the leaves doesn’t let the water adhere well to the leaves. I noticed other plants similarly arranged such as cabbage. I really begin to worry when there is no longer any dew in the morning.
You caught the picture I have tried to repeatedly and failed; namely a single water drip in focus and showing reflection. I would really like to get a picture like that showing colored light sparkling in the drop but that is a taller order still. I did find out recently that in the right light bubbles will show rainbow colors. I think a bubble machine out of sight and the air full of mini rainbows would make a very nice bride & groom picture setting.
Your posting about dew reminds me of the early morning spider webs beaded with silver that will be coming up next month. Lucy Maud Montgomery in one of her short stories referred to them as the fairies spreading their tablecloths on the grass. The word “gossamer” comes to mind. I need an ink focus picture of some of them also.
Once again you have been noticing the ‘little things’. When I am out and about I try to notice the big, the medium, the little and the tiny. It is too much of course and whichever one I am seeing I am missing the others. But anyway, nature is rewarding across each of them. I just come away knowing there was more to see than I saw. One never runs out of dicoveries.
Morning dew (especially down south in NC and beyond) seems to be a much needed way to get moisture to the plants. It is a wonderful thing to walk through the cool and wet grass first thing in the morning before it heats up. I’m reminded how God left manna (angel food) every morning for a bunch of heathen (chosen people) to eat but it wasn’t good enough. They griped they needed meat. So quail was sent by God to pile up several feet around their camp and while the juicy bird was still in their teeth, God vowed not a one would walk into the Promised Land who craved meat and the ones who complained indeed died- some right then and some later… I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses. And the words I hear falling on my ear the son of God discloses. And he walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me I am his own….
Your post was timely. I had just noticed a trail through the cut grass in the dew, probably from my dog. It’s almost a straight line across the grass to the trees. Nearby is another crooked trail in the dew. She must have smelled a rabbit. When I was a child I tried to get rid of my freckles by putting dew on them but I still have them. A drop of dew on a leaf or flower is a most beautiful sight.
Dew is like magic! It comes out of the darkness and disappears in the daylight and each time helping all the plants just a little before disappearing in the day light!
That’s a wonderful picture you have there, Tip! It portrays the magical quality of dew!