thru another winter. I'm sure I'm not the only one looking around the garden and drinking in what's left of the season? Trying to "soak up" the color & greenery before everything turns to drab brown...
Are you grabbing the camera with the same increased frequency I am?? Determined to capture anything and everything left in bloom??
Zauschneria 'arizonica' (Hardy Hummingbird Trumpet) in front of the vintage wheelbarrow:
The way I see it, flowers at the end of October are just as precious as the first blooms of spring.
They are the lasting impression of the garden before the doldrums of winter set in...
Japanese anemones still going strong.
The longer they bloom, the shorter the "off season!"
Seat yourself in the purple rocker and enjoy the show...
With the end of the month looming, the sense of urgency to finish fall clean-up becomes paramount. Tender tropicals (like double flowering mandevilla) have been lifted from their containers and brought indoors to be overwintered. All that remains are annuals perilously close to demise.
Sounds morbid, doesn't it??
It would be remiss to focus solely on flowers & ignore the sudden explosion of fall foliage. Check out the view down the side pathway today ~ the viburnum leaves were lit up like liquid sunshine!
So fantastic. If only it would last....
'Terracotta' Calibrachoa ~ I'll be back for you next year!
You were fantastic in the arbor container ~ the perfect spiller.
Oh the melancholy of it all. Proceeding with seasonal chores while mourning the loss of what has been.
The fountain is winterized. The birdbath heater is readied. The last of the bulbs have been planted, etc. etc.
All that remains is acceptance.
Summer is over (get it in your head girl!) and after the predicted hard frost (coming with possible first snow) it will feel as tho fall is gone as well. Now how to mentally get on the same page...
Well you are ahead of the ballgame by getting everything ready. Awesome!! The plants in your garden still look unfazed by the ending of summer. I love your term 'liquid sunshine'. So splendid. I'm wondering if your clivia will bloom again this winter? I am hoping mine blooms as it never has. sigh. Happy fall to you!
Posted by: tina | October 24, 2011 at 12:32 PM
I agree--I'm trying to grab every moment I have to capture shots of the green, growing things and the remaining blooms. Every one of your photos is magical! That rocker looks so inviting!
Posted by: PlantPostings | October 24, 2011 at 07:47 PM
I've been grabbing my camera too, thinking that these will be the last flowers. Your anemones make me envious ~ mine put on a good show the first year and since then black blister beetles have devoured them. The bright golden hues of the viburnum do look like liquid sunshine!
Posted by: sweetbay | October 24, 2011 at 09:22 PM
I like to think the garden is just going to Sleep for the long winter. YOu caught my eye with the hummingbird trumpet. I love hummers in my garden and like to add things they will enjoy. Thanks for the pics...
Posted by: Skeeter | October 25, 2011 at 08:02 AM
Hi Kathleen, All that remains is acceptance. I love that sentence and sentiment. You are way more organized than me. Nothing has been brought in. No bulbs are planted. The fountain is not winterized...Gosh, I could write a to-do list based on your accomplishments! I better get my act in gear!
Posted by: Jennifer | October 25, 2011 at 06:20 PM
Beautiful photos of the anemones. Our weather has been unseasonably warm here almost all of October, so I've been out with the camera 13 days so far this month!
Posted by: Kala | October 26, 2011 at 02:23 AM