Saturday, October 01, 2016

The First of October





The days grow shorter....

It is dark when I waken and I am tempted to turn and snuggle in the warmth of the bed, until I think of Bruce's bladder, and up I rise, calling to him to come and greet the day.  He's a sweet dog, and wakes with a smile and great enthusiasm as he lifts his leg!!!

The garden is toying with the idea of slumber, but you know how it is, preparing to go to bed.  It doesn't all happen at once, and so we are spending pleasant hours outside these days, Callie and Bruce and I, dead-heading, gathering up barrow loads of compost material, saving seeds of the nicotiana and finding a spot for the potted foxgloves that didn't bloom this year, but surely will next summer.

I am making a pot pourri of garden herbs, drying them slowly and then sieving them as needed.

In the meantime the garden goes about its business - the fall flowers bloom profusely.  Especially the asters whose blossoms swarm with bees when they open to the sunshine in the morning...


I am continually snipping off yellow daisies who have done their thing, and now grow old and dry and withered as old things (and people) are wont to do.....  The blooms that take their place are smaller, but never ending.....


The lilies and the peonies have donned their autumn colours....


but look - the honeysuckle is in bloom again...


and at irregular intervals the lovely chinese lantern
marks the spot where the chinese rail line has 
established a station....




Mister Lincoln has raised his stove pipe hat and seven feet in the air

three rich red blossoms start to open against the blue of the sky.


Callie sits on the stump of the pussy willow tree that was taking over the garden,
looking through the cutch grass that grows just outside our fence. -
probably not as frustrated as I am inclined to be -
too interested in the neighbourhood kitties that wander down the lane.


The sedum and the chrysanthemums are saving themselves for October, when
the trees turn golden and scarlet and bronze
and the sky a brilliant blue.

Soon, soon, soon I must take a trip to Cawston and to Ginty's pond...
Maybe tomorrow!


5 comments:

Penny said...

We are so wet and soggy I can't even think of doing anything in the garden. Love listening about yours,

Barb said...

What! Did I read the word "lovely" in the same sentence as "Chinese rail line." Yes, I think I did! HIldred, your garden is still lovely in October. Mine has all gone to seed and has many withered stalks. I don't clean it up in fall, preferring to wait until spring. That way, I can see where things might come up again. Your Header is stunning. I hope you do get to visit Ginty's. Take Care.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Pretty pretty Fall!! The asters are great plants -- such a wonderful color and so bee friendly. And your daisies (and the header shot too) and all your flowers are wonderful. Such a great way of thinking -- the garden preparing for sleep, but not all at once.

I'd love to see Ginty's Pond in the Fall (I really would in real life, but here I was referring to virtually through your eyes -- hope you do get to go!)

The Weaver of Grass said...

A lovely post Hildred and lovely photographs to go with it. I adore Chinese lanterns but can't get them to grow here. What you call asters we tend to call Michaelmas Daisies here - a sure sign of Autumn if ever there was one.

Morning's Minion said...

I am most envious of your purple asters! I've not been able to establish a good clump of them here in Kentucky. In New England they are naturalized along every back road--perhaps seeds from wildlings would flourish where nursery plants have languished.