Last Hurrah

Close to frost last evening. I'll cut some Seedum to have them dry out in an old fruit basket and then start emptying the flower pots and beds. One more look at this year's colorful porch surrounds. After doing this, I'll start dehydrating some of the apples we brought home from the orchard. Maybe - maybe I'll bake an apple "something" as well. Sun is out but it is deceiving - not warm. 42° in the shade on the thermometer. 

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Summer Ended

When not a single hummingbird has sipped nectar from the feeder for two days, I knew they had left. That means that summer is truly over, even though we may have a few more warmer days. Soon it will be time to take out all of the plantings, cover the swing and golf cart and air conditioner. The propane heater and generator have already been serviced. The heat tapes for the water supply will be switched to "on." James will be covered with wood preservative and then sport his winter warm attire. We are ready for the change. I plan to nip a few of the Seedum stems with blossoms for an autumn display on the porch before everything is cut down and gone. They are not nearly as large nor as full as in past years. One has even moved away to start a new life in the woods! The good news is that the apple orchard is opening next week and we will start our usual projects. It is a nice autumn ride out to the farm. We buy 12 half gallons of freshly pressed cider - one for each month ahead. It freezes really well after we top off a bit from each jug. We will buy enough apples to make pies, applesauce, apple cakes and to dehydrate some. It will be nice to socialize with the owners and workers there. One day at a time is how we live our lives now - one day at a time. I have a turkey to roast. I'm looking forward to baking breads and cookies! The bread is a new challenge. Oatmeal bread, clay pot bread and others. More on that later. It will be fun - I think - and tasty!

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#1497 Autumn is on the Horizon

The trees and grass are still green, but other signs forecast that summer is starting to terminate.

The Sedum are in full bloom, turning bright pink and falling over.

Soon the porch swing will be covered and the boat taken down.

The spread of the stems reveals spider nests.

Portulaca grew way too tall due to the wetness this year and is finished pushing out the pretty multicolored blossoms.

You can see the true color pink in the porch shadow.

A closer look is nicer.

The fern did well with the wetness but is turning brown now.

No more hummingbirds have been seen for three days. The pine cone wreath needs to be refurbished as the other birds have plucked it for nest materials early in the spring.

Beauty at its best.

The pollinators are hard at work.

I see many doing the job and that is a very good thing.

Henry stands proud but his contents are drooping and falling off more than usual.

I'm going to slice off a couple of leaves and try to root them for next year. It might work. I'll talk them into it!

James stands undressed waiting for his preservation treatment.

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I Never Saw IT Coming

Ya know....Autumn, Winter. Yeah! Right!  My fruit basket is empty and soon we'll be traveling to the orchard place to stock up on cider. We'll also be getting pumpkins (for decoration) and apples (for all sorts of good eating such as pies, crisp, and sauce.)

please click on image to enjoy the last days of summer

Completion

Yes, the spring and summer are over and autumn has begun. It happens every year, but annually I'm still amazed at what has passed.

When we bought the little white geranium, it was because there were no red ones left when we went to the produce stand. I didn't want pink so it was my choice to have white or none. I had no idea how it would like to live in the old piece of plastic pipe at the corner of the ancient "rock garden" that my mother had formed about 55 years ago. 

April 17

May 21

September 4

October 2

I'm already thinking of Spring! Perhaps Henry will be sporting a different flower and the pipe will have the Elegance Imperial Regal Geranium. I can almost see it now. Henry's small body caused this to become badly root bound and now I know it needs more space!

May 21

June 11

June 22

July 3

September 16

The sedum did it again! They are so top heavy that they fell over - they always do that! I even nipped them as they grew so they wouldn't be so tall. There must be a way to "fix" this!

October 2

August 11

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Season's Ending

I love the little Portulaca plants I bought this year and how well they developed. They needed little watering and the assorted flowers were pleasing. I think (and hope) they are self-seeding for another year of prettiness. They needed very little care.

May 19

May 31

Aug 18

Sep 14

And, of course, the sedum are turning pink and falling over. I meant to trim them down before they budded so they wouldn't get top heavy, and only snipped a few tops off. It's my fault and I'll just have to do better next year. They really are beautiful, however.

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Sundial Mix Portulaca

Medium flowers on durable, heat and drought tolerant plants. For garden or pots.  Plant in full sun 18"-24" apart. Grows up to 4 inches tall.