Kaseys Korner

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Lemon Garden'

refreshingly summer-like in the fall garden.

Have you ever seen cosmos this shade of yellow??? 

I sure hadn't.   So light and dreamy. 

'Yellow Garden' was ordered from Annie's Annuals when it was difficult for me to get out to the greenhouses.  Besides the enchanting color, I was sold on the name ~ anything "lemon" and I'm always all in!

A late bloomer (I was beginning to worry), it didn't start flowering until the first part of September.

But OH MY, so completely and utterly worth the wait.

They are supposed to be true from seed so, of course, I'm collecting!!!  :)

As far as other happenings, remember those apples pictured in my last post??  Over the weekend they were rather industriously turned into Apple Butter!!

I use the word "industrious" because I had to be just that ~ pretty labor intensive peeling and coring all those apples.  Once the apples were prepared tho, the recipe was a cinch to follow.  Click the link above if you'd like to give it a try.

The garden continues to be adorned for the season. 

Pumpkins (of all sizes) popped into spaces wherever possible, including the vintage tool caddy.

What a switch, it looks so "smart" & festive this way, compared to it's normal, plain, utilitarian self.

Since I was on a roll (and there's no point in leaving something undecorated!) a birdhouse was collected from another part of the garden, set in the base of an empty hanging birdfeeder then tucked in with a few clipped hydrangea blooms and another mini pumpkin. 

So simple yet instantly "Fall."

Finally, just today, a Painted Lady sighting!!  The first one this year.

Flitting back and forth between the lantana & Buddleja. 

Correct me if I'm wrong because I hope I spelled that right??  All these plant name changes confuse a hobbyist gardener.  I don't know how recently the spelling was changed??  I just read something about it last week.  In case you're in my shoes, the latin name (for the commonly know "Butterfly Bush") apparently should be spelled Buddleja with an "eja" instead of the old way ~ Buddleia, "eia."

Above:  Buddleja 'Honeycomb'

Whatever.  The butterflies love it.  I love it.  I doubt they care how we spell it!!  

I'm just glad there are blooms left for them to enjoy.

Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema) 'Rhumba'

igniting my heretofor lack luster interest in mums.

WOW.   Now that is a yummy color. 

Opening red, before softening into a gorgeous apricot coral.

I've purchased mums before for fall decorating but they've always been tossed into the yard waste when they've finished blooming. 

Not so the fate of 'Rhumba!'  She will be the first hardy mum to settle her roots into the soils of my garden!!!!

That is, after I get done admiring her!!!  I've been moving her around trying to find the best "temporary" home to enjoy her and I think I've found it in the iron lattice urn I recently purchased from Terrain.

Actually, a word about the urn.  You're seeing it's only good side.  It was shipped in a thin cardboard box with a small amount of peanuts.  That's not a lot of protection for something CAST IRON so of course, it was damaged.  Three long vertical cracks around the sides & two holes broken out of the lattice work.  I was so bummed.  However, I cannot say enough good about Terrains customer service.  They credited me the entire purchase price of the urn (I did send photos supporting my claim.)  Definitely a company to do future business with!  I don't know how long the urn will hold up but (since it was broken, they didn't require me to return it) I stuck it in the garden where I originally planned to place it.

'Rhumba' is not the only sign of the new fall season around here, pumpkins have been making their way into the garden too.  Along with a basket of apples from my neighbors tree.  I think I'm going to try my hand at apple sauce with them???

I couldn't resist a little photo shoot tho before they get cooked down!

Don't they make a pretty scene nestled among the pumpkins and pansies??

A spot of color in front of the funky birdhouse.

I'm on the lookout for a slightly larger pumpkin to set in the middle of the pansy urn, the one below seems just a "titch" small.

The pansies are a 'Frizzle Sizzle' mix, my favorite because of their ruffles.

I'm slowly transitioning from summer, trying to do it at my own pace this year instead of frantically running around before the first hard frost .  Yesterday the patio umbrella was stored away & replaced by the "pumpkin lantern."

Although our weather lately has been so pleasant, much more summer-like actually than fall.  I took advantage one morning and ate breakfast outside while my daughter was still asleep....

Not my normal breakfast fare.  This was a special treat ~ a Strawberry Rhubarb scone.  I couldn't resist trying a batch even tho that combo reminds me more of spring.  If you'd like to try the recipe, you can find it here.

Early predictions of a bad winter have me worried so I'm hoping for a loooonnnnggg Fall and maybe an error on the part of the people who forecast these things??!!!

 

Chihuly Glass Exhibit

Denver Botanic Gardens, September 2014

SPECTACULAR!!! 

My photography doesn't do it justice AT ALL as we were there in the worst possible conditions for good photos ~ midday, bright, glaring sunshine, etc. 

I should know better!

The shadows above are horrific but look beyond and see what a terrific job of placement the Garden did with these glass pieces.  I thought they matched the plants & art wonderfully well.

The best photos I took were the ones below ~ in the shade!

I didn't see a name on this display but many of them were titled. 

Below:  "Turquoise Reeds, Marlins & Persian Towers:"

Below:  "White Tower:"

My favorite of all ~ "Float Boat"

just stunning....

I could have taken a million angles of this & they all would have been amazing.  It was brilliant.

Nearby, the "Blue & Purple Boat"

and the "Monet Pool Fiori:"

There was a photo of this display at night which was magnificent. 

The exhibit is on display thru the end of November.  I would love to go back under better (less harsh)  light conditions or even for an evening viewing.

Below, the one display it seemed appropriate to photograph in full sunlight:  "Summer Sun:"

Finally a couple photos from the gardens themselves.

Beautiful succulent container.

Loved the pillars.

Above & below:  "Hive Garden Bistro"

Notice the materials are natural:  lotus pods, pine cones, bricks, etc.  Things that could easily be collected & assembled in the garden.

Wrapping up, it was a wonderful outing, the glass art phenomenal.  If this exhibit (or another similar one) travels to your area, I highly recommend seeing it.  I wasn't sure what to expect beforehand but it surpassed my imagination a hundred times over.  Superb, superb, superb!!!!!

Garden ornamentation

definition of ornamentation:  "the action of decorating something or making it more elaborate."

Otherwise put, an activity dear to my heart!  :)

There's a fine art to ornamentation tho and I'm sure there are times I ride the line between "tasteful" and "too much."

Easy to do when you find the hunt for "gardenalia" as enjoyable a hobby as gardening itself!

"Close the gate" plaque & zinc thermometer by Terrain.

I'm partial to vintage items and like to tuck them in and around the plants.

Never subscribing to a philosophy of "less is more" but rather

adhering to a careful (believe it or not even strict) placement of pieces....

Above: vintage steam grate acting as a plant support to Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant.'

No longer visible by mid summer!

All designed to enhance the garden, not detract from it.

Many of these pieces are rotated in and out as the seasons or blooms change.

Obviously, the garden can hold more during the verdant lushness of summer.

Whereas the bare "bones" of winter expose an altogether less picturesque appearance (dare I say bordering on "junky??!!)  That's when much of the ornamentation here is pulled & stored for the following season.

Birds; a most beautiful & sought after ornamentation.   Above:  Yellow warbler.

Now I'm wondering where you fall in the scope of garden ornamentation??  "Never enough" or "not for me????"

'Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate'

Latin name:  Polygonum orientale

Common Name:  Much more fun to say!

I don't know why it took me so many years to try this graceful, old-fashioned annual?

It's possible I'm still in the "honeymoon stage" but so far, I love everything about it.  The fact that it grows & blooms quickly is awesome. 

The way it reaches towering heights, on willowy stems, which sway ever so elegantly on summer breezes absolutely delights me.  Wow, that came out rather poetically, didn't it?!!!

Maybe I could write the seed packet caption?!!  lol

I underestimated just how tall they would actually be when I planted (one plant each) in the urns flanking the fireplace.  Look how they leapt up and over it:

Described as prolific self seeders which, if they can be easily removed from unwanted spots, I generally like.  Apparently, my old coco fiber doormat (which had been "temporarily" placed in front of the fireplace) is the perfect seed germinator ~ check out my new KMOTGG seedlings:

How awesome is that??  I wonder how many other seeds could be germinated this way??  Could I have just stumbled on a new seed starting method?!!!

Scroll backwards & check out the large yellow/green foliage too.  Very attractive.

Another plus, apparently birds love the seeds as well.  They can have whatever I don't harvest but be forewarned, I am gathering a good quantity first!   I'm hoping to sprinkle them around the front garden bed next spring instead of planting them in containers again.  I think tall dancing panicles of pink would be the perfect addition there.  :)

A side footnote:   You are not going to believe what might happen tonight.  The 11th of Sept and we could get a frost or even worse, snow.  Could I get a loud, commiserating "UGH?"  That is just NOT RIGHT!  I'm hoping it's another time the forecast is wrong....

Dahlia 'Floorinoor'

The dahlias are late to bloom this year.  I don't think cool, rainy weather is their forte???

You might remember 'Cafe au Lait' ~ she was the exception.  The rest, like 'Floorinoor,' are just beginning:

Yes, she truly IS that electric!!! 

Orange, hot pink & a splash of yellow...

The first "Powder Puff" (anemone type) Dahlia I've ever grown but I'm thinking that's about to change.

You can be sure I'll post more photos as she continues to unfold... 

I hope the rest of the dahlias kick into high gear too.  The pace they've been on and the fall-like temperatures are making me nervous that there might not be enough time left in the season to see them....

Something else I'm waiting on are Cosmos 'Apricot.'  Two plants grew to towering heights but NO buds or blooms in sight???

See that "tree-esque" plant with the ferny foliage???  That's them.  I don't know what's up???  It's like everything but the buds were on steroids??

Since I last posted, we turned another month on the calendar.  Where did summer go?  The start of September ushered in a second flush of blooms on the roses, including my favorite:

'Abraham Darby.'

Unfortunately, I didn't manage to re-fertilize any of the roses in July (like normal) so this go 'round of buds/blooms is scanty.  I won't make that mistake again! 

Something so beautiful we want in abundance, right?!

I'm starting to feel melancholy about the end of summer, dreading winter when I didn't get my usual dose of heat and summer activities.  Everyone says "there's always next year," but you never know what the next year will bring.  I hope it's a long hot summer that starts super early and goes late!

One thing the cool, rainy weather is good for is putting me back in the cooking mode.  I tried yet another tomato recipe, this one a roasted tomato mini pie from one of my favorite blogs, Stone Gable.

It was tasty and easy to assemble.  If I make it again tho, I'll add more herbs.  Maybe my taste buds trend toward spicy because I thought it could use a bit more "zing."

The tomatoes come from our Sunday ritual ~ visiting the Farmer's Market.  There's one stall that has a killer deal, fill a bag to overflowing for $10.00, or this week, everything you could pile in a box for $20.00! 

I also just realized the other day, I never ordered any fall bulbs.  That's another first for me!  It will feel strange to not be planting anything (unless I make a greenhouse run, which could happen!)

Now I'm headed back to the garage where I've been on a much needed cleaning spree.  Butter will be happy to "assist" you while I'm gone....  ;)