Things that are fleeting

Autumn gave us an absolutely fabulous treat this year.  So many days that were just perfect.  Lots of sun, lots of leaves in vibrant colors.  I think the trees knew they looked particularly beautiful and decided not to drop their leaves until the last possible minute.  One reason that we enjoy the beauty of fall so much might be because we are well aware that it is all so fleeting.  And as for carved pumpkins, they are kind of like June bugs.  One magical night of wonder and then you are done for.  

The First of Autumn

This morning before I started on that last flower bed, the one that had escaped my transplant shovel and critical eye all summer, I walked around the garden looking to see what was still flowering.  It's officially autumn, but the leaves aren't turning yet, so I needed to find some last gasps of summer still hanging on the vine.  As usual my little enchanted garden did not disappoint me.

The ornamental onions are done, but the seed pods make a good show.  And maybe when winter comes, they will make a good meal for someone.

This little flower waved me over, so I just had to take its pic.

The driftwood seems to be rushing the season a bit.  Hey, it's not winter yet.  Wake up!

The giant chartreuse barberry is loaded with orangey-red flowers.  I had to hang my head upside down to get them photographed.  I guess they're shy.

The hydrangea tree is dripping in blooms.  They start out greenish-white and slowly change to rose.  So you can see, fall really is upon us.

This little succulent surrounded by a wire vine just draws me in.  You are getting sleepy. . . . 

There was a touch of natural sunlight on this blossom.  So I knelt down where I wouldn't get between the flower and the sun.  Glad I did.

And then my garden's gift for the day.  

The garden did distract me for a bit, but I finally got to that one last spot.  Now the plants can relax.  But I'm already thinking about ideas for next year. . . .  

A Slow Day for Bees

There is so much activity in the garden these days.  The crows fight the hawk above my head.  Extremely noisy, but very compelling.  I just can't see from my earthbound perspective why the crows need to chase the hawk.  But I'm sure they have their reasons.  And it makes for good theater.  I have a hummingbird, finally, who comes to the window boxes once the sun warms the flowers.  He just can't seem to get his beak into the feeder though, but I will keep it on offer during their migration south.  Then there are the chipmunks who love to gather the overflow from the bird feeders.  I must admit I pour a little on the ground for them.  Then sit and watch them fill their pouches until they look like they will burst.  But this morning the most interesting creatures I found to photograph were the bees.  Not because they were particularly beautiful today, but because they were cold.  And couldn't move fast.  So it gave me time to frame my shot before they were out of the shot.

Well, almost.

If researchers wanted to find out if flowers could talk, this guy seems like a promising subject.

In your head do you hear, Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's off to work I go?

If you didn't, you do now.  Sorry.

Hey, I think your trunk is full.  Time to head back to wherever it is you head back to and dump that stuff.  

I love these windflowers.  Last year they didn't come back and I was going to buy more this spring.  I forgot to, but it seems the garden took care of it for me. 

Garden enchantment comes through again.

By request, The Vicarious Garden

If you follow my blog, my journey through the seasons, you might have noticed that there hasn't been any new activity around here lately.  Instead of posting photos of the garden this summer, I seem to have kept gardening.  The weather was perfect on so many days that I took advantage of it and kept on digging, weeding, planting.  By the time August came to a close I had removed the rest of the grass in my yard, cleaned up quite a few of the overgrown areas, and created some new gardens that should be stunning next year.  A good friend and follower of Urban Enchantment asked me to post photos of the garden areas.  

So here it goes, by request, for Kathy.

This is the new front yard.  The garden with the birdbath is new.  Just a few weeks old.  It is planted with herbs.  Very promising, I think.

The new chairs and the table we made of birch logs and New York blue stone.  Very relaxing place to sit and sip iced tea.

View from new garden to the pond and Fudwick's house.

I cleaned up the paths to the pond and to Fudwick's place.  It was totally overgrown and looks a lot tidier and much more inviting.

A little humor never hurt anyone.  Do I detect the hint of a smirk?

View coming into the front gate looking toward the pond.  

(The pond is covered in floating plants.  If you can't see water, it's not you.)

The hydrangea tree.  Pretty incredible.  It was the starting point of this entire gardening venture many years ago.

The front hill that I love so much had become overgrown.  The wonderful stone outcroppings were hidden under tons of plants.  So I got in there and reclaimed some territory.  

The boulevard garden certainly did its part feeding the butterflies and bees. 

Lots was also happening in the backyard.  The last of the grass was removed and gardens were expanded.  And thanks to the generous gift of this incredible piece of driftwood from Pamela, a magical memorial garden was created for Joyce and Roger, Pamela's parents and the people who wrestled the thing out of Lake Superior 50 years ago.

This little driftwood fence felt like it built itself.  I'm amazed that it has stayed together with no addition of twine, wire, screws.  Just the driftwood.  (Does that tall guy on the left seem to be morphing into some sort of dragon?  I'll need to keep a watch on him.)

 

And this little guy seems a bit pleased with himself. 

Other side of the backyard.  A shade garden with a path through it.  A very peaceful spot.

View of shade garden from back door. 

 

Everybody loves a garden bench.  The squirrels love to sit there and open up the black walnuts.  They leave quite a mess.  Just walnut shells.  Could be worse I guess.

And now for a bit of garden enchantment.  If you will venture to go down this magical path, you just might come out at a very peaceful and very lovely farm.  

It's been quite a wonderful summer.  Hope you enjoyed traveling through it with me for a bit.