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The view from our front door is rapidly changing. The lovely ash tree in all it's golden glory is loosing it's lovely leaves. When the leaves are down, it really looks a wintery landscape indeed with the branches bare. The only color being from the little colorful red finches that rest between eating seeds and conversing in bird song. The yard seems lonely with sleeping leafless trees, so this time of year is special in it's own way. I enjoy the changing colors, don't mind raking up the leaves, but I sure look forward to the green growth in the spring. The tree in all it's autumn glory, makes me feel, like I too, am in the autumn of my life. Enjoy your garden today.
Although it's fall here, we have about 65-70 the last few days and will be for a week or so. It's wonderful weather to work about the yard. I have been cutting off the iris leaves, cleaning up a couple of other flower beds, making a compost bin and feeding the doves of course. They like to eat in the open, of the sunflower seeds that I scatter on the driveway in the morning. These are the larger doves, there were 28 that I could count, but they didn't all make the picture. The smaller doves eat before and after them, mostly. They allowed me to take the picture through the window, but I can't open the door while they are feeding, they fly quickly. My only sadness comes as hubby is down in bed for a week during this wonderful fall weather. He would much rather be up and out in the garden enjoying the sunshine. Well, pray all is well in your garden, and lovely flowers are nodding at you, as you walk in the peacefulness of your garden.
Yes, the signs of autumn in all it's special color is starting to befall us here in the north. Summer is winding down. It's a time of the year with its own charm. The 'changing of the guards ' is one of the first signs. The beauty of the leaves changing, most of us look forward to. Not because winter is coming, it is just that the beauty of this season is special, like spring, in it's own rite of passage. The birds change their seasons, the northern birds come down, and some of our birds go further south. I saw a flock of 12 blue jays yesterday. The hummers seem to have moved on a couple of days ago before the cool nights appeared in the upper 30's. There are geese honking overhead, the black capped chickadees are coming back.
I find myself "planting in my mind" the flowers for some flower beds, as a I clean some up and put them to sleep for spring. In the dead of winter, envisioning the flower beds, keeps me focused on the spring and not about the cold that surrounds the beds in there frozen beds of snow. Sipping hot drinks, biting into crunchy apples, and eating hot soups, that is the stuff that fall is made of. The aroma of home baked bread, cookies or pies wafting around the air that is the season that is coming up. The focus becomes more of an indoor thing after the harvest, so for now, we continue the harvest for the colder days we know will come. The reds leaves are sign that that season isn't to far off. That's it, here in the garden. Have a great day in the garden of your life.
Well there are 3 geraniums in the salvia bed....what can I say, "I liked the look of them when I saw them. The poor salvia have had a rough summer. In August we had over 6 inches of rain, a record for here and 4 inches in Sept. so far. The slugs and I have been battling it out all summer...I finally got leaves on the salvia plants, enough that they could support flowers. The humming birds have loved them, visiting them several times a day, and checking out every flower on the stalks. I tried to get a picture, but they were just to quick and busy for me. Zipping between the 4 o'clock flowers and the salvia...laughing I am sure at the lady with the cammera following along behind. No matter, they are still welcome. The yellow ribbons have been up and replaced several times since 9-11-01. They serve as a constant reminder of our troops all serving, all over. Most days I need to keep that thought really close, they serve a purpose bigger than family at the moment and that is hard for some people to understand. They didn't ask where...the soldiers just went, they didn't ask how long...some are reupped several times...my job is to tend the garden and pray for them, their families, and other people. The peace we all want to feel, starts in each of us...you can't truely give something you don't have. The garden gives me a place to reflect, provides moments of serenity, where I renew my spirit, and hopefully share peace with all who tarry there. From my garden to yours...have a great day.
This time of year with days getting shorter, nights are longer and cooler (39 for a low so far). This is my "harvest" time. This year, I planted some squash seeds along the potting benches. They rambled across the benches, over the stones between the benches, and along the tops of the iris leaves. Periodically, I remembered to give them a bucket of rain water or a bit of the hose. For my rewards, I get a few squash this fall. My favorite and easy way to cook squash in to microwave it under glass (which steams it) in half or quarters after removing the seeds, for about 15 minates.
The tomato's are still thriving, and periodically there are enough to can. Otherwise we are still enjoying a side dish of tomato's with at least one meal a day. My green peppers have really slacked off and I miss there fresh green snappy crispness. There were not many to cut up and freeze this year...I shall have to do better next year. Maybe they need more TLC.
The day has been misty and cool again, about 64 degrees for two days now. Nights are getting pretty cool. With the rains lately, well, the frost hasn't come yet...but soon. We know the rain won't hold it off forever. The fall flowers are o.k. but I have 2 mums that are still in bud and not opening. I have one plant that is huge, so if it ever "blossoms", I will certainly take it's lovely picture. Hope all is well in your gardens.
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