Early October Images

Today the sky is bright blue, and the air is cool. Summer is gone.I watched dark clouds yesterday, first faint on the horizon, then gathering power and rolling toward us, until at last they poured out much needed rain and forcefully pushed away the last high temperatures of the year. This morning I breathed in the fresh air and reveled in the low humidity and chill breezes. Autumn is only peeking at us and blushing a bit now, but the next few weeks should bring some wonderful color transformations as the season displays its full glory. Meanwhile, Lou is already busy raking leaves.a sampling of autumn leaves
This skinny squirrel is probably watching, not leaves, but all the acorns falling from the trees! Maybe they will fatten him up!

Here are a few early fall scenes around the garden:

Tropicana canna Lily is noted for its outstanding foliage and fiery blooms, but I am also impressed with its seed pods.

This seed pod is from a Southern Magnolia tree.

There are still some flowers blooming in early October. Most of these will bloom until frost:Counterclockwise from top left: Spider lily; Purple Sage; Autumn Sage; Red Cascade rose; Hardy Morning Glory; Wild ageratum; Plectranthus; Penelope rose.

October blessings to you all; have a great week!    Deborah

A Sensational Day in the Front Garden

The golden sun was so warm, even as a strong cool breeze was blowing summer away. In the background, the sound of thousands of katydids rose and fell like rhythmic Latin American maracas. I have heard the sound all my life and hardly notice it, but a stranger to the region could be overwhelmed by it. The songbirds were singing, the hawks were shrieking at each other, and the barred owls where hooting in their otherworldly language. The colors of the world were heightened with the sky an intense cerulean blue and the trees and shrubs edged with shades of yellow, pink, and purple. When I took a deep breath I could smell it all: the earth, the freshness of the breeze, the aromas of the foliage. In all, the day was a marvelous sensory experience.

Here are some photos I took around the front garden yesterday as I enjoyed a taste of early autumn. I hope you will receive a blessing, as I did.

A view through the Jasmine arch toward the front garden

a view of the front garden

A view from the front toward the edge of the woodland garden

I planted Deodar 'Feelin' Blue' about a decade ago, when it was only a few inches tall and about a foot wide. Now it is over six feet tall and ten feet wide.

Some views inside the front garden

A view into the front garden from the lower front lawn. I call this the backside of the front garden.Paths run throughout the front garden.

Wild ageratum is one weed I allow to roam, within limits.

An early beginning of the fall foliage show

Finally, here are some September flowers:

I hope that, wherever you are, you are surrounded by love and those things in life that are most beautiful. Have a great week!