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.
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.
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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!!!!!!
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.
ReplyDeleteDid you eat the mushroom?
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.....
DeleteI'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".
DeleteAs 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
I agree Jon! Those ole glory hole mushrooms are the best aren't they!!!
DeleteThe 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.
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?
ReplyDeleteSophie, 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.
DeletePretty kitty!
ReplyDeleteIs 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.
ReplyDeleteOnce 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.
DeleteDamn 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!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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
DeleteIt'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.
ReplyDeleteTundra...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.
DeleteAnd 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.
Well, Sophie certainly has a gorgeous hunting ground!
ReplyDeleteJust 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..
DeleteMr. Green Thumb (Mistress) The glorious flowers are amazing in your garden
ReplyDeleteLovely display!
ReplyDeleteWe'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
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.
Deletewhat did you do with the mushroom?
ReplyDeleteA better question would be who WAS the mushroom???? HAHAHA!
DeleteOh Mistress! I'm loving all the purple! The salvia and the dahlias are stunning!!!! Even as gardening season winds down...it still looks so pretty. I put out a few pumpkins on the porch this weekend myself. I agree with the cassia and Mexican sunflowers, they look so good together, and they both got huge! Are you growing triffids or what???
ReplyDeleteThey got huge!!!!
DeleteYour garden captures the magic of the season so beautifully. I could sit here with a warm mug of apple cider all day.
ReplyDeleteThe cat posed nicely for you.
ReplyDeleteI zoomed in was the trick.
DeleteI love how you’ve embraced the textures of the season. The seed heads of the coneflower with those little mini daisies look incredible." The warmth of your garden is so inviting as is that soup
ReplyDeleteAnd those pods have oodles of seeds in them...even more coneflowers!
Deleteyou sure do know how to make things grow!
ReplyDeleteand just how much soup did you make, the stock pot id HUGE?? Are you feeding the US army?
Yes as a matter of fact. From what I hear the administration doesnt feed them anyhow.
DeleteI too agree with another comment...the cassia and the orange flowers look so good together and they did get huge! I had no idea Mexican sunflowers got so huge. I recall in May that whole area was empty!
ReplyDeleteGolden hour looks absolutely perfect in your garden.
Its been a lovely autumn.
DeleteTo paraphrase John Greenleaf Whittier, your garden looks like it was touched by the enchanter, frost. The rich tones are gorgeous! I suppose the weather of late has helped?
ReplyDeleteThey all say, "it is huge!" Only few can prove it. That is a lot of corn.
ReplyDeleteDid you see the size of the pot? It made 20 mason jars of soup.
DeleteSophie might have a shock when she goes paw against claw with a cat. Cats have five weapons - 4 claws and a mouthful of teeth as apposed to dogs' mouthful of teeth.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea if the cat is de-clawed or not. I assume it is... if someone has it as a outdoor cat.
DeleteHere in October and the garden still looks so pretty! I love the purples and the pumpkins. I plan to pick up two or three for my little balcony.
ReplyDelete