A Ghoulish Lizard and Autumn

What becomes of an old rubber lizard, when its days of play are done?

This ghoulish creature is an appropriate Halloween character, but in its youth it was a brightly colored companion to three boys. It has a hollow gullet and was known to swallow small plastic toys. Later on it endured tougher times, when Jasmine the black lab became its enemy. She would stalk and attack it, growling and shaking it and chewing on its legs. But now the boys are grown and Jasmine is buried under a weeping Japanese maple, while the lizard still prevails, serving faithfully as guardian of the garden.

The ancient lizard has watched many seasons come and go. The garden has matured, and now it is perhaps the prettiest ever. As autumn passes, I want to hold on to every mellow moment as long as I can. I am enjoying days on the patio and walks about the garden, even as leaves are falling and breezes are bringing cooler air.

Here is my view from the patio lounge chair, looking across my recently refurbished table and a cobblestone birdhouse, toward the front garden:Fall is a beautiful time of year in the front garden. Japanese maples and dogwoods are especially lovely.

I love bird houses! Walking around to the opposite side of the house, another birdhouse is next to the drive:This old bird house's rusty roof ls attractive with fall foliage in the background.

another view of the birdhouse by the drive

I haven't posted a photo of my little blue bridge in the woodland garden in a while. I took this shot last week:Light streams across the blue bridge in the woodlands.

This woodland path is near the Lady Garden:

Some more views around the garden:A few close-ups:

Finally, commenters from my previous post had great suggestions on what to name our new kitty. I truly appreciate all of you who took time to comment. Top choices included Sage, Rosemary, Maggie (short for Magnolia) and Berri, but in the end she rejected all of them. The name she responded to and which seemed to fit perfectly (once we had thought of it) is:

Autumn!

You may also enjoy A Snowy Monster and Other Things in My Garden

Good Riddance Cancer Tree, Hello Kitty!

We cut down a malignant tree in the front garden this week. It was only a foot tall when my husband bought it for me years ago. It was labeled Viburnum Augustifolium, but I am not convinced that is what it was. Its evergreen leaves were quite attractive and some of them had pretty fall colors, but this was its only redeeming quality.

Its white springtime flowers were insignificant and did not produce berries. It grew large, over twenty feet tall, and that was OK with me. But its cancerous growth pattern was not. It spread from vigorous underground suckers, invading nearby paths and taking over a daffodil bed. Recently Lou and I examined the thicket of stems spreading out from its base and decided the massive plant had to go.

The viburnum had a strong presence in that part of the garden, and its removal left a large gap.

Opportunity! Now I have a sunny place for some deciduous hollies, which lack sufficient sun to produce their famous berries in their current woodland location. I will also move some coral berry bushes from another part of the front garden, for the same reason. A Japanese maple and a weeping blue cedar purchased during the bargain days of summer have been patiently waiting for a home, and they too will be welcomed to this area. 

I am never afraid to change things in my yard. If I had to live with all my mistakes, I would have a miserable excuse for a garden! But the lesson learned is to know what one is planting and what its future growth is likely to be.

I will post photos of the new planting area when it is completed. Meanwhile, here are a few photos I took in the garden this week. I'm not sure who is enjoying the fabulous weather more, me or the creatures who inhabit the space.Clockwise from top left: Fritillary on zinnia, oxalis growing through artemesia, moon vine, another zinnia in the wildflower area.
Buckeye butterfly

Gulf Fritillary butterfly

Long Tail Skipper

Close-ups of two leaves growing simultaneously on my Red Banana Plant

I'm not the only one drawn to the Red Banana plant! There are many anole lizards in my garden.

Finally, does this kitten belong to anyone out there? She has adopted us. We haven't had a pet since our last dog passed away last year. She is very friendly and likes to chase squirrels. If we don't find her owner, I think she will stay. Lou has never liked cats, but she won him over by following him around and helping him work on the house the other day. She put on sophisticated airs for this photo, but she is quite playful.All of my animals have had garden or flower names. Any suggestions?