The last act before the curtain falls

I almost hate to see the asters bloom. When I see asters, I know the end is near.
This year they are blooming a little earlier than usual because I did not cut them back. Most years, I cut them back 2 or 3 times, stopping around July 4. I do this to keep them more compact. Most years they grow over 5 feet tall and tend to fall over. This year I never got around to cutting them back. For some reason they are also shorter than normal. I do like that they are blooming now while I still have other flowers in bloom. Usually by the time they open everything else is finished.

I have a lot of asters (even though I removed huge clumps of them last year). I have a rocky relationship with asters. They have weedy-looking foliage. The first two feet or so turn brown and ratty long before they bloom, so they must be hidden behind other plants to look presentable. They tend to flop over. See how terrible the lower portion is!



Every year I consider removing them all. So far they remain because:

#1 - I have so many it would be a major task to dig them all out
#2 - I would need A LOT of new plants to fill the space
#3 - They are easy to grow
#4 - I think the flower is attractive
#5 - They make nice fall pictures :)

The Fall Side Garden

So many perennials are so fleeting. It is rare to find one that blooms more than three weeks. As gardeners we are always seeking the perfect combination of plants, choreographing bloom times so that we always have one plant coming into bloom as the prior plant fades into its state of hibernation. It is often frustrating -- usually we can get a small garden to look good (even great) for one season, but then we have only sporadic blooms the remainder of the gardening year.

I have shown you this area twice before - in the spring and in the summer. Now I am showing you the same area in the fall.

I think this is one area I have succeeded in getting right. I like that it is totally different each season - brilliant orange in spring, subdued pink/white in the summer, and bright yellows/purple in the fall.

It is a small area jam packed with flowers. I am amazed that they continue to bloom as well as they do, being planted almost on top of each other. This spot gets almost no additional water as my hose won't reach unless I put two together and the only time I will go to that trouble is in a severe drought. I weed it thoroughly in the spring and rarely thereafter. I do cut down the spent poppies, mallow and daisies as soon as they are finished to make room for whatever is coming next.

Right now it has black-eyed Susan, 'Annette's flower' (the yellow bush daisy), an aster or two, and, of course, Sedumn AJ.

I think this area looks pretty decent in all seasons with very little work on my part.

Here is a picture from the other direction so that you can see the full size of it.

World Naked Gardening Day

And I missed the celebration!

Did you all know that September 10, 2005 was "World Naked Gardening Day"? Yes, indeed, a day dedicated to gardening in the buff.

You can read about it here

But be forewarned that they do have pictures of those "gardening as nature intended".

Obscene Flower?

Sorry, just couldn't resist posting this peace lily.

Woman Cannot Live by Gardening Alone

Sometimes I do have to do something else. I enjoy cooking/baking, but rarely have time to do anything beyond the preparation of dinner during the summer months. I have been hungry for my English Muffin Bread, which I bake and then freeze to take to work. This stuff is sooooooooooo delicious toasted and spread rather generously with butter (real butter if at all possible). See all the holes in it? Just like an English Muffin. One of the great pleasures of my life...

Playing with your Camera

It is fun to take pictures at odd angles just to see what you will get. Try sticking the camera into the plant and shooting up. You can get some interesting shots.

Bee on Chive

I have a few chives that are putting out a second bloom. My gardens are FULL of bees now due to the Sedumn Autumn Joy.

That is something I may not have warned you all about. If bees, hornets, wasps, etc. bother you, don't plant the AJ! They all love it and it is not uncommon to have 4 or 5 of the various stinging insects swarming around each plant. They have never stung me, but I still get a little nervous when I have to get this close (within 3 or 4 inches) to get a close up pic.

I don't know what this caterpillar is.

I really don't know much about bugs, insects, etc. I just like photographing them.

Pretty in Pink

The Sedum AJ is progressing nicely.

Good bye Echinops

Earlier this afternoon I cut down my globe thistle (Echinops ritro) so that I can dry it.



Before setting it out to dry, I like to remove the leaves. You must do this very carefully as the leaves have little pickey things all around the edges. It really hurts if you stick your finger with them!


Once I remove all the leaves, I just stick them in a tall container and set them on the garage shelf. In about two weeks they should be good and dry and I will then paint them gold.




They just may end up crowning one of my Christmas trees this year -- If they do, I will certainly show you how they turned out.

I Didn't Intend to Rearrange the Deck Again...

All I had planned to do today was dump a few ratty-looking containers. I dumped this little wooden wheelbarrow and then I had an idea (imagine blinking lightbulb over head)...

maybe that big beautiful red double impatiens I have on the table in the woodland area would look nice inside the wooden wheelbarrow? Hmmmmm....I rarely go out to the woodland area any more and it is such a pain to remember to water that one...so much easier if it was right on the deck with everything else where I would be able to enjoy it for the last few weeks of the gardening season.

So off I trot to retrieve the big red plant.

It looked even better than I had imagined...



hmmmm...maybe I should remove the pink zinnias from the big sled container....
O.K. Now it is way too bare.




remember, I never wanted pink to begin with...I thought I had purchased all red and orange, but when they bloomed I had more pink than anything else. Maybe I could stick the big orange double impatiens inside the sled?

Ah, yes, that worked, too. If only I had more red in the sled????


Why look! There is a good-sized bright red begonia...I yank out even more plants from the sled until I have enough space to stick the begonia container in there...



I love the look! Red and orange was the color scheme I wanted to begin with.




And so began a few hours of regrouping until I ended up with this...




I was tired of looking at the grill planter while sitting on the glider. So I decided to move that and put the white bench in its place with the large 'peaches and cream' dahlia behind it. Then I called DH to help me move the giant-sized canna container. It is my favorite container of all and I wanted it where I could enjoy it. I can now see the purple fountain grass plumes blowing in the breeze from the family room and kitchen.




Here is my view from the glider where I almost always sit.



I am happy now. I probably have from as little as two weeks to as many as four weeks before I will be have to remove it all. Until then I will enjoy the fruits of today's labor.

Still Stalking the Little Creatures

Almost hidden hummer...


White moth on Sedum Autumn Joy


Hummingbird Moth

'Annette's Flower' changes

Yesterday I noticed this single bloom amongst the doubles. I don't recall this ever happening before, but I do like it.

Purple Fountain Grass Revisited

I have really been enjoying the life cycle of this purple fountain grass. This is the first time I have grown it and I will certainly look for more next year. The grass is a lovely purple color and when the plumes first appear, they, too are purple. As they mature, they turn a brown color and all these little seeds appear. Has anyone saved the seeds and successfully grown the grass the next year?

Here is a comparison of the new & the old plumes.

Dinner Fit For a Queen

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A toasted tomato sandwich and a scoop of potato salad.

Note that there is no bacon, no lettuce, nothing to jumble up that sweet fresh flavor of my mother-in-law's tomatoes.

It just doesn't get much better than this

What kind of moth am I?

I don't know what this moth (?) is, but isn't he cute?

Fall Aster Ready to Burst Forth

And two days later...

Hens and Chicks

Beautiful Sights When Walking

This beautiful scene is across the street from where I work. This bridge connects to an island where people live (only a few people, maybe 9 families). Back in my "fitness nut" days (when I walked 4 miles every day) I walked by this bridge almost daily.
About a year ago, I stopped walking and stopped going to the gym to use the weight machines (just got burned out, I guess). Now I miss seeing this beautiful sight.

What is a sun choke?

If you have been following the comments on the little veggie quiz below, then you know that another perennial seems to have been found - sun chokes. Having never heard of sun chokes, I did a little googling and found this: (info taken from this site: http://www.psgrill.net/Food/FoodInfo/Vegetables/RootVegetables/sunchokes.html

reprinted here for your convenience:

SUN CHOKES(JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE)

Jerusalem artichokes, native to North America, were used by the Indians long before the coming of the settlers from Europe. Their name is a misnomer on both counts. They have no connection with Jerusalem and they are not artichokes, which is why they have been renamed and are now called sun chokes. They are tubers produced beneath the ground by a variety of sunflower. They look like small, knobby, white potatoes or a piece of ginger root.Sun chokes are grown in California on a limited scale that is more than adequate to satisfy the limited demand and are therefore sold primarily in the more costly gourmet produce outlets. They are first harvested in the fall and continue to be available for most of the winter.Jerusalem artichokes may be eaten raw, boiled, or sautéed. They tend to discolor and blacken if cooked in aluminum pots or pans. They are pure white in flesh and have an unusually earthy but pleasant flavor when served raw in salads.Choose firm, light-colored sun chokes (they are usually sold prepackaged) and store in the refrigerator.

WHEN TO BUY: Supplies erratic; available late Fall through Winter WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Firm, light-colored vegetables HOW TO STORE: Require refrigeration

Ok. So is it a flower or a vegetable? I must search a bit further, before I admit error on the little quiz.

update: I think it is a veggie. So I am now openly admitting error - but, what fun it was!
And I learned about sun chokes, too!

Don't Ever Change Your Email Address

What a pain it is! I switched from Dial up to DSL a few days ago and am having so many problems ever since (with this Blog). I am sure it has something to do with the change of email address even though I have changed my profile and changed in dashboard. I have removed all cookies and temp files and rebooted at least four times. Today I noticed that Alice and Sandy left a comment. I got the email notification from Alice's comment, but not from Sandy's.

For two days I have been trying to add Alice's blog to my blogroll by subscribing in Bloglines. For some reason that does not work either. (update: 6:00 p.m. - success at last--after at least the 12th attempt--perseverance does pay off!)

So I apologize if you have left a comment and I have not noticed it.

If anyone has had the same problem and knows the answer, PLEASE, PLEASE let me in on the secret! I have emailed blogger, but it could be days (if ever) before they answer.

Quiz time for vegetable growers

Most vegetables have to be re-planted every spring.

There are only two vegetables (to the best of my limited knowledge) that are perennial.

What are they?

Opposite Side of the Main Gardens

I don't think I have ever shown you this side of the deck gardens. It borders the neighbor's empty lot and I hardly ever see it since I would have to be on their lot to view it. It is one of my better areas for sun, thus such a shame that I can't enjoy it. That being the case, I removed everything I really liked and planted them in areas where I could appreciate them. I left this spot full of asters (the tall green foliage). They will be blooming soon and should look quite nice if we don't get a heavy wind storm that blows them all down. I used to take the time to tie them all to the lattice, but I gave that up a few years back. Other than a good spring weeding, this area gets no attention from me.

Hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend. I am off to attend a Labor Day deck party.

Sedum Autumn Joy Almost There

Just a few more days and the SAJ will be at my favorite point of its life cycle. I like it best when it is a soft pink color. It will only last a short time in that color stage and then will turn a darker bronzey color, which I am not that fond of.

Nothing Beats the Blue of a Morning Glory

Just last week I put this morning glory in my "Flops 2005" file. I was not happy with the plant at all. The foliage yellows and the first foot and a half of the plant is pretty bare. Today I was pushing the wheelbarrow through the backyard when I looked up and saw all these blue flowers and I had to stop a moment and admire the sight. Of course, I went right inside to grab the camera to share with all of you. I guess even the flops have their moment of glory! (Especially with a little creative container arranging to hide their flaws!) I added this after Dianne's comment that it did not look like a "flop" to her. I must admit that this picture does make it look better than it really is. And, of course, on most days when it looks really bad, I don't post the picture!

Where to Plant a Butterfly Bush

I get so much pleasure from my butterfly bush. Once it begins to bloom, It is always a flutter with butterflies, hummers, moths, and bees. It is rare to come out to the deck and not see something enjoying its nectar.

The reason I get so much pleasure from it is that I can SEE it. Yes, I have it planted right next to the deck. I can stand there and look down and get a very close view. When I sit at the table, I am only 2 - 3 feet away.

A few years ago I had this planted in one of the main garden beds. I did not enjoy it nearly as much because I only saw it when I took a walk in that direction (maybe once or twice a day).

So what's my point? Just give a little thought to where you plant something like a butterfly bush. If you have a deck or a patio that you use often, try to put it near the place you like to sit and relax. If you rarely sit outside, then how about a window that you will be looking through daily? You will get so much added pleasure from it, if you can actually see all of the activity it generates.

Why Me?

I am still only receiving random emails alerting me to a comment. I did not receive any yesterday and yet there was a comment. If I reply to a comment, I don’t receive the email alert. Very strange………..and nobody else is having this problem, right?

White phlox with asters not yet in bloom.

Views from the Garden Today

Second Bloom of Pink Mallow

I cut this mallow plant back severely in mid-July before it went to seed. It is now re-blooming beautifully. In past years I have waited to cut it back until there were quite a few seed pods. This year I have discovered that cutting in back before it expends all of its energy making seeds leads to a much nicer second bloom. Every year I learn something new...now if only I can remember it next year!

BlogDay has Come and Gone

Did anyone know that August 31 was Blog Day?

I did not find out about it until I started surfing my foodie blogs. It seems all the foodies knew about it.
The purpose of BlogDay was this:

Each blogger was to share 5 new blogs with their readership. Preferably blogs with different content from their own.

I love to scout out new blogs, so I found it quite interesting surging this morning. I found a few that I will revisit, and I am still planning to check out more.

If you also like aimless surfing, you can search technorati tags for “BlogDay2005” and do a little surfing yourself…even easier, just click this link:

http://technorati.com/tag/BlogDay2005

On a totally different matter…is there a problem with blogger sending emails when comments are left? I don’t seem to be getting the notification emails. I got one yesterday, but I see that 3 or 4 people left a comment. I am concerned as I did change internet providers two days ago. I went into blogger and put the correct email address. I hope I don’t have big headaches coming my way. If anyone else is having problems then I will know it is blogger and not the fact that I changed providers.

Oh, my, I am dead tired. Since getting home from work at 3:30 p.m., I have been cooking, baking, did a load of laundry and vacuumed. I baked two different kinds of oatmeal/raisin cookies, doctored up some jarred spaghetti sauce with fresh tomatoes that I slow-roasted last night for three hours, threw in some basil, celery, onions, garlic - voila -- "homemade" sauce. Not that I mind the jarred the sauce. I only did all the extra work so I could use up the tomatoes my neighbor and family members have so generously shared with me. I can see why people don't bake much anymore. It took two hours to make the two kinds of cookies. The worst part was cleaning up the kitchen--what a mess - counters full of dishes...bits of gunk all over the floor--no wonder people just buy them at the store. I am glad it is all done and I have a little time to relax on the computer. I made the cookies for my boss. He did something nice earlier in the summer and said all he wanted for payment was a big tin of homemade oatmeal/raisin cookies. That was at least six weeks ago (so long ago that neither of us can remember what it was he did!). Every now and then we mention that the cookies have never materialized, so tonight I decided to finally get them made. I hope he likes them. There is nothing too exciting happening in the garden this week. I did find this cute little green frog atop the phlox earlier in the week.