Lightning Strikes! Green Thumb Sunday

Today is Sunday.
I've been waiting to show you this blossom! :-)

This is Tricyrtis, 'Lightning Strikes'

I never can decide which picture to show...

... so I'm sharing both close-ups!

Isn't it pretty?

Green Thumb Sunday
You, too, could participate in this.
:-)

Hope your September is ending Beautifully!
Shady G.

I Found Another 'Fun-Guy' in the backyard!

Actually, there were two of them.
This was taken due to a comment by Deb at Garden Author.
She wondered if I didn't have any 'turkey tail' fungus.
Yep. I do. :-) follow the above link for great information!

But this one "takes the cake!"
(Maybe he ate it? ha.)
I don't know who this is...
do you? ;-)

Would you have any "fun-guy" of your own to share?
LOL
Shady G.

Looking at September

Come September
by Hazelmarie Elliott

poem taken from poemhunter

Come September,
when two of nature's seasons live as one,
where days of summer shed their final afterglow
'ere falling gently 'neath an autumn's rising sun,
and every hanging bough and turning leaf will know ~

the green meets gold,
within the murmurings and turnings of trees
that flutter their branches in a restless dance
of impending change. Their limbs akimbo, as arms,
waving goodbye...watching autumn advance,

yet, summer pleads,
to share the days of changeling September
and clings to every breath of autumn's eve ~
spreading warmth and sultry breeze with waning movement
while knowing time grows short, and it must leave,

as beauty stays,
though, not for long, for gold becomes gold
after summer's sung her final song,
and lustrous are the days and nights made bold
with autumn's breath blowing chilly and cold ~

O'grieve September,
though, not for long, as gold turns into winter white,
then into green with 'springing' guile,
and summer's sight brings back September,
to share a season's remembered smile.

May you enjoy this Fall season! :-)

Shady G.

Wordless Wednesday (almost!)

This year's crop of acorns is Way Too Abundant!

We can't justify the purchase of one of those monster riding vacuum/shredder/mowers. Our yard isn't large enough and we have way too many things (flower gardens, trees, etc.) to mow around. ;-) But, in two hours, I picked up three 5-gallon buckets of acorns. Not bad. I've one more area to go... but not this morning. Perhaps this early evening. Then, if they continue to fall, I can better keep up with them! :-)

Here's My Carrot Crop!

You might remember that I'd planted a few things in the front of my sunny corner flower bed. I'd planted rhubarb, tomatoes, green peppers, parsley and carrots. :-)

Last night we ate three carrots from the bed (in a yummy dish for dinner). But I've a little mystery for you to solve. Here are photos of the carrots.

"What's Up" with those three red ones??

GTS Post... quickly!

Green Thumb Sunday!(Click title to join)
begun by
"As the Garden Grows"

I wasn't sure I had time to do this today.
But, after I spotted a couple of little "somethings" outdoors,
I knew I had to take the time. :-)

Here's what I found.

(A little background: In an earlier post this fall,
I'd discovered one hardy cyclamen blossom... all by itself.
I'd wondered, at the time, if that was "it!")

Hardy Cyclamen

And leaves

And a couple more leaves... tiny, aren't they?

Doesn't take much to "make my day!"

Hope you had a great day! :-)

Do YOU want it?

(I know... this should be a 'September' poem. Hopefully later!)

Mother Doesn't Want a Dog
by Judith Viorst

Mother doesn't want a dog.
Mother says they smell,
And never sit when you say sit,
Or even when you yell.
And when you come home late at night
And there is ice and snow,
You have to go back out because
The dumb dog has to go.

Mother doesn't want a dog.
Mother says they shed,
And always let the strangers in
And bark at friends instead,
And do disgraceful things on rugs,
and track mud on the floor,
And flop upon your bed at night
And snore their doggy snore.

Mother doesn't want a dog.
She's making a mistake.
Because, more than a dog, I think
She will not want this snake.

(Thought you might want to see what I found just recently!)
:-)

common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis).

But, I'm not keeping him for a pet. Even if My Mother said, "Yes!" ;-)

It's the Berries!

I'm taking a cue from Mr. McGregor's Daughter to post about the berries in my yard. She gives credit to Lisa from Greenbow who posted on Carol's (of May Dreams Gardens) post.

Someday I wish to have lots of berries for the birds! However, at this point, I think I have a fairly good start.

This bush is really turning red this fall.
It has all these little berry/seeds that I presume birds don't eat.
(I have more seedlings growing than you could believe!)

Euonymus alata 'Compactus'
Burning Bush

This plant is now one year and three months old!
And these three berries were all I could find.
I'm anticipating many more next Fall! :-)

Viburnum dentatum 'Blue Muffin'

This is an original planting.
It grows on the very shady east side of the house.
It is a little spindly but it continues to thrive.
It was identified as Arrowwood.
At this site it tells me that Arrowwood is really

Viburnum Dentatum 'Arrowwood'

This is another original planting to the house.
Everything I discover to read about this shrub
describes its Spring Fragrant Flowers (emphasis mine -
which means they're right!).
However, nowhere do I read about berries.
This is what I found, shown below.

Viburnum Burkwoodii 'Mohawk'

Around here, this tree is known as "Barbie's Tree."
This tree was planted in honor of my sister
whose death occurred two years ago this coming Oct. 16.
(The tree was planted June 19, 2007.)

Malus 'Sargentii'
aka 'Sargent Flowering Crabapple'

It is Very Floriferous in the Spring!
Just look at the crab apples! :-)

You, too, could post about your berries!
(If you haven't already done so.)

Have a berry nice day! ;-)
Shady G

Would you like to see what happened at my Parents' home?

During my most recent visit?
Click the words above.
(This is on my "Making Memories")

Enjoy! ---Shady G.

The Continued Saga in the Raised Beds...

She heard a cough and turned her head.
Perhaps she should have stopped, instead.
His voice was very soft and low,
His words? "You know I soon must go...



Fall is coming; Winter's cold I dread,
I thank you for the board and bread..."
Long and drawn-out, a silence ensued,
and then she completely became unglued!



"Please don't, I beg..." 'twas next he said,
as he humbly stood and bowed his head.
"Perhaps," she said, "it is my heart..."
then she proceeded to fall apart!

Now, of course... I should have ended here... but, no. I don't always know when to quit! ;-)

So, here's a little more...

"Perhaps, again... as I travel next year...
Do you think I might... be welcomed here?"
She looked at him, with downcast eye,
and said, "As surely as Winter snow doth fly!"


(So far, so good...)


He smiled at her quite tenderly
And he could quite, and plainly, see
That while it was she that couldn't go...
She would certainly need help to avoid Winter's snow!


(or)


He smiled at her quite tenderly
And he could quite, and plainly, see
That while she seemed to care so much,
She was going to need Shady Gardener's touch!


(or)


He smiled at her quite tenderly;
Tho' he could quite, and plainly, see
that perhaps her temperament he might pardon...
Was there really room for two in this garden?


(or...)


Do you have a suggestion?

:-)

Have fun!
Shady G.

Perhaps you missed out on the original post? Click here.

Green Thumb Sunday

Garden Bloomers' Bloom Day
(on the 15th of the month - follow this link!)
and
Green Thumb Sunday
click on this link or
check the right side-bar!

Join today!

Yes, there are some great things blooming here today!
These three photos are of the crazy-bright impatiens
(which I Really Love!)
and the items sharing their beds... :-)
How many times have I mentioned that they self-seeded again this year?

The following few photos are of plants in the south raised beds.
Here's the Obedient Plant, "Vivid."
It has no choice but to be obedient, due to the fact that it's confined in a raised bed.
(At least I hope that's the way it works!) ;-)This is Aster "Alert."
(These aren't tall plants... just another close-up!)

Here's another plant in bloom in the raised beds...
"Turtlehead" Chelone Obliqua
I'm sure you can tell why it's called "Turtlehead!" :-)

I like that hosta plants bloom at all different times. These have just begun!
This is an unnamed variety in northeast shady bed.This is "Sugar & Cream" on east side of house.
You can catch a glimpse of more hosta...
but what do you think of putting some impatiens
in the tree?
(I'll work on a better planter next year! ha.)Another unnamed variety in south woodland walk.

Earlier I'd posted photos of my tricyrtis.
This first photo shows 'Seiryu', which has just begun to bloom.This is 'Shining Light', also just beginning to bloom!
Notice the fuzzy buds of the upcoming blossoms. :-)

And 'Lightning Strikes' is closer to blooming!

I was certain that, when I planted these 5 Springs ago,
I had two different varieties of Lilyturf, Liriope Spicata...
but in doing a Google-search, I'm finding only one
type of the variety that I have.
Oh, well. Some of them have lavender blossoms.

And some of them have pink blossoms.
If you can help me with this, I'd appreciate it!
And here are a few more soft colors!
Anemones (they were here when we came)
of an unknown species...
most of which are turning a pale pink.
And next to the anemone is an Autumn Joy sedum.

Please be patient with this little video.
I took a steadier one later, but I couldn't help showing you
how the bumble bee met up with a crab spider! ;-)

It feels as though we're really on the last legs of Summer.
In fact, Fall is definitely beginning to show signs of moving in.
But, I couldn't help walking around with the camera today...
just to take a few more photographs.

Hope you've enjoyed the tour as much as I did! :-)

---Shady Gardener

Would you like to see my Aunt MEA's yard?

Here's a link to a post I just did on "Making Memories." :-)

Everything's Coming Up... Roses? Not!

We have had frequent visitors this summer!

Just as in any other circumstance,
visitors come in a host of shapes and sizes.


See?
A few more?
and Again?

This, too?


But, what about this phenomenon?

These popped up towards the end of August.

Another odd thing is that when it rains, unlike the earlier visitors,
these last two fellows disappear completely,
and when it's sunny, they pop up again!

What do you think? :-)

Did you notice the cute little hostas below those umbrellas?
They're enjoying a break from longer stretches of direct sunlight,
due to the removal of our large tree canopy August 1st.

P.S. Did you also notice the sparse grass in the last photo? Towards the end of July, I noticed squirrels industriously working in the lawn and carrying off mouthsful of grass! When I returned home mid-August, there were large bare spots in the lawn! This has been since corrected, as I've sown grass seed and it's growing nicely! :-)