"Red October" was one of the last of my hostas to be blooming... but then, it didn't begin blooming until October! :-)







A little more color!!




















Have a Great day!
SG

"Fabulous Fall Decor" Award

Thank you, Patsi. I'm not sure I can take much credit for the Fall Decor we're enjoying, but I'm sure we all like to think we contribute just a little to the overall scene. :-) You'll find Patsi at Garden Endeavors. Her garden site is very much worth your visit!

Now I must follow the rules and pick six people I've noticed sharing beautiful Fall arrangement and/or scenery posts. I know everyone, especially in the northern regions, are preparing to say goodbye to their garden blossoms, so we really are enjoying a lot of Fall posts. But I must limit myself to six people. You might visit them to let them know about this award!

Gail at Clay and Limestone,
Deb at Garden Author,
Kathleen at Kasey's Korner,
Nancy Bond at Soliloquy,
Northern Shade at Northern Shade Gardening,
Kylee at Our Little Acre.

The rules are simple...you pick up this award photo and post it on your blog. Nominate six people/blogs of your choice for this same award. Then finally, you need to let the winners know that they have been chosen!

Nothing "Shady" here! Enjoy visiting these blogs. :-)
SG

Harvest Home and Fall Color

Harvest Home
by Arthur Guiterman

The maples flare among the spruces,
The bursting foxgrape spills its juices,
The gentians lift their sapphire fringes
On roadways rich with golden tinges,
The waddling woodchucks fill their hampers,
The deer mouse runs, the chipmunk scampers,
The squirrels scurry, never stopping,
For all they hear is apples dropping
And walnuts plumping fast and faster;
The bee weighs down the purple aster---
Yes, hive your honey, little hummer,
The woods are waving, "Farewell, Summer."

Every day brings just a little more change in the Fall colors. This is what we've been seeing this past week or so. :-)

Slight changes happening downtown...

(Oct. 8)

(Oct. 9)

You know, I always obey this sign...
but do you think it could use an exclamation point about this time of year? ;-)
(Oct. 9)

You will see these burning bushes from the front of the house
(with a couple of rhododendrons sandwiched in between).

The back side of the bush was pretty, too
especially contrasted with the green hostas
that seem to be hugging the ground.
(Oct. 14)

(Oct. 15) A cloudy day.
We are now looking up at our Shagbark Hickory
on the south (woodsy) side of the house.
(Oct. 14)

I'm enjoying this Fall weather. I've planted a few bulbs and will be happy to see the flowers next Spring! I have a few tulips to plant... just couldn't resist trying a few. I'll probably lay hardware cloth over the ground until Spring!! Perhaps that'll keep the rodents from digging down to them.

Hope you're enjoying this Autumn weather.
SG

Silent Sunday Succulents

Parden the photo quality.
An update on my Christmas Cacti.


Plant Number One:
(10 full blossoms, 6 nearly ready and dozens more on the way)

Plant Number Two:

(one so far)

:-)

You Might Say,

"This was a blooming mystery!" ;-)

I traipsed downstairs to the basement storage room on September 19th. I was headed for the plant workbench to see about some pots, when "what to my wondering eye should appear?"

No... no tiny reindeer... but something nearly as amazing! It was a pot I'd purchased last Winter and completely forgotten about. There it sat, in the dark (until I turned on the light, of course). Upon closer inspection, there were Green Shoots coming out of the dry ground!

"What's this?" I said to myself.
So, I took it outdoors and watered it.

I had a sneaking suspicion, but I really had forgotten all about the purchase!

Would this be a better clue??

Here we are, on October 1st.
Tah-dah!

This was taken Wednesday, October 15.

Yep! A Calla Lily. Now what?
I guess I'll be taking it indoors again.

I also have a couple that I planted in front of the house that I'll need to dig.
But, this little fellow should be fun - don't you think? ;-)

P.S. Don't you think that someone would pick up that fallen basket?? hmmmm?

Today is a Day of Memories

I'm meeting my parents and my brother-in-law today

in central Iowa.
My post is on Making Memories today.

S.G.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - "On Time!"

Okay.

It's raining outside (not a downpour),
and I decided to head outdoors to take a couple more photos!

I can take little credit for the success of the gardens this year.
We have enjoyed a wonderful growing season.
Everything was provided as needed...
(it was critical to water only a couple of times).
For that I am both grateful and humbled, as that's not the case everywhere.

This is what is blooming right now, as we speak! :-)

Japanese Anemone, Anemone japonica 'September Charms'?

Tricyrtis hirta, variety unknown
(discount purchase)
The flower pot on the right is supposed to be a toad house. ;-)

A last look at the front beds - photo 1

photo 2

"Stella Supreme" is such a great re-bloomer!
Notice there still buds forthcoming!

And I know this fellow is trying to tell me something.
Let's lean in... oh, yeah... I hear it!
"Come on, already. I want to go in. It's getting chilly out here!"

I understand completely.

I'll see if I can help him out later.
For the moment... I'm headed indoors!
(brrr!)
Shady G.

P.S. This is Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. See Carol about Joining.