Sunday, October 18, 2026

AUTUMN IN THE GARDEN


It's been a glorious weekend, if not a bit cool with some light gales. The first of what is bound to many garden clean ups for fallen leaves, dead blooms and a start of putting the beds to rest. But worry not, parts of the garden are still going quite strong...and of course the autumn has brought about new stars of the show like the dahlias and zinnias, and the Mexican sunflowers are way above the fence. Who knew they would get that huge from just seeds in May?!?  They are still attracting bees galore, but I do believe the butterflies may have migrated already. I saw more butterflies than I had seen in a couple years. I guess the wildflower garden really does attract more pollinators. But the cooler nights has already claimed some of the potted plants.
I really need to add in more ox blood dahlia next year.
What's left in the wildflower garden
A huge mushroom in the garden! It was huge!
A new usual suspect to the garden of late. I have seen her/him many times the last couple weeks...even napping for some time before moving on. Sophie has yet to see the visitor. I hate to see the kitty spooked, especially while enjoying a nice pew or nap. I'm pretty sure it's a neighborhood cat that has a home.
The Cassia Didymobotrya rivaled the Mexican sunflower for height. The two together look spectacular and it smells so good. I might rethink for next year thought it's placement. Both are still going strong.
The Datura Ballerina are always still blooming like crazy. And do they ever small heavenly.
I do believe the Clematis is going for yet another showing.
The salvia beds are still going strong and are even more brilliant, I think. This is generally where I catch the hummingbirds.
 
I also got in my first batch of Chicken corn soup made this weekend

So there was that too...and it was delish!!!!!!

19 comments:

  1. That first dahlia is beautiful - as is the ox blood! And I'm happy to see some blue cornflowers in your wild garden still flowering.

    Did you eat the mushroom?

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    1. I only enjoy one type of mushroom, and this isn't it!!!! I had a basket full of these mushrooms...I have no idea if they are edible or not. The coneflowers were lovely this year...from seeds in the wildflower garden. The later ones are still in bloom. I suspect they will multiply next year.....

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    2. I'd be very careful about unidentified fungi - there's an edible one that looks like that called the Parasol, and another, similar one called "the vomiter".

      As for the "other" kind of unidentified long stem with a bulbous hood, I've spent enough time at glory-holes to know there's no likelihood of problems there! 😜 Jx

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    3. I agree Jon! Those ole glory hole mushrooms are the best aren't they!!!

      The real ones. I'm not a mushroom lover, I don't like. I like the flavor, but not the texture. They are cool to look at though, like the one featured here.

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  2. The autumn gardens are stunning along with all your pots of flowers. Glorious. What a beautiful cat. Would Sophie hate her or might they become friends?

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    1. Sophie, if she sees it, will be like a rabbit at a racetrack!!!! It's been in the back garden already...and goes right over the fence. If I see the cat first, I won't let Sophie out.

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  3. Is it any wonder the kitty is drawn to your garden???? It's so pretty! I am particularly drawn into the purples and the dahlias! You have oodles! I tried a Cassia here this here as you saw. It's now gone...it was pitiful. Yeah, it didn't not like this location, or sandy soil. I love them though still.

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    1. Once we get a first frost, which could be any night now, that will do the Cassia in. The nights have gotten very cool...down into the 40's, high 30's already.

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  4. Damn henny! It's all so pretty! I'm coming to cut some dahlias! They are expensive in the shops this year. And growing up in PA and enjoying PA Dutch food..you had me with at Chicken Corn Soup!!!!!

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  5. It all so glorious!!!! To have color still in the garden is a treat. I enjoyed viewing this today. I ADORE that terra cotta pumpkin too. The small ones at the front door are cute too. Nice to see one embrace the autumn.

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    1. I love that pumpkin too! I got it half off at a garden center here last year. It is heavy! Next week at some point I will carve my real pumpkins

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  6. It's amazing that your garden still produces such colourful blooms this late into fall -- and the bright orange of that pumpkin on your doorstep is wonderful! Your backyard may well become a UFC cage match if Sophie and that cat ever meet, LOL.

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    1. Tundra...with a nice rain supply this summer, a lovely spring, and the warm temps this late, the garden is still showing the magic!!! The only picture I didn't share in the potted garden with the terra cotta pumpkin. At night I have white red and orange light woven in the plants. Looks cool.

      And Sophie will not be allowed out if kitty is present. I shutter to think what will happen. Now Buster would have loved the cat. He was a gentile soul.

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  7. Well, Sophie certainly has a gorgeous hunting ground!

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    1. Just today she chased a squirrel into the salvia and broke some of them! That DOG! I must have sounded like Mother Burnside shouting, " Get out of my begonias!'' from Auntie Mame during the fox hunt..

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  8. Mr. Green Thumb (Mistress) The glorious flowers are amazing in your garden

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  9. Lovely display!

    We've had bugger all success with Dahlias for a few years now, but we're hoping that with the bastard weed trees now all gone, we may have more success in future years. I'm half-tempted to try a Cassia (Senna), but I doubt we'd be able to get plants in the UK... Jx

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    1. I bet you might have better luck now...they do love the sun! Both of said plants. And the scent of the cassia really does smell like buttered popcorn. That shade of yellow is just so cheerful.

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