I think I’m back in business. I am finally able to post again after a few weeks of computer and cellphone issues. I have a few nice foliage pix to share with you, but not many flowers. We had some frost, so the dahlias are dug, dried and put away for the winter. I cut back the brugmansia and that has been brought inside. Most of the perennials are cut back now too. The meadow has been mowed, porch and patio furniture put away, and pots emptied out. We have a few more chores to do outside and then winter can come.

Soon the snows will come and the garden will rest. I can use one too!.

No, I haven’t disappeared. I have had some computer issues all month and finally picked up my new computer this morning. I can finally post again. October was lovely in Massachusetts. The foliage was a bit dull, but the weather was warm. We didn’t get frost until a couple nights ago. We had a big nor’easter and the wind blew most of the leaves off the trees, and we lost a big willow as well. I spent the month cutting back some perennials and moving some others. I was able to transplant the Japanese Iris into the old willow circle, and I hope for a beautiful display in the spring. There are still a few flowers around – dahlias were blooming a couple of days ago, but the frost finally got them. Here is a taste of October in my garden.

Oh, what lovely weather. The cool nights and pleasant low humidity days are here. I have decided to attack the “willow circle”. This is an area where we used to have a willow tree. The tree was rotting and had become a hazard, so we took it down a long time ago. The area around the stump is quite wet and there are some iris and daylilies and tons of weeds growing up around it. I thought it might be nice to remove the plants that are there now and put all my Ensata Iris there since those really like wet conditions. I began digging yesterday. Whew, hard work. I will relocate some of the plants and give away the rest.

The garden is taking on an end of the season look. There are still some things blooming though

The leaves are starting to change. The miracle of autumn begins.

This is not a time for my garden to shine. I haven’t weeded or deadheaded. I have hardly even looked at the plants. Its either been hot or rainy, or we have been away for a few days. I know the cool weather will return, and I will have ambition again. There are plans to dig out an overgrown area, divide and relocate some Japanese iris, and remove some other under performers. Whether these plans make it to fruition or not depends on my creaky old shoulders, the cooperation of the weather, and if I feel like bothering with the whole project. Some gardening years are like that. We will see.

In the meantime, I ran outside for a few pix the other day between storms. At least, I haven’t had to drag hoses around, and in the grand scheme of things I don’t have anything to complain about.

So that’s about it for now. The asters and mums will start blooming soon, and hopefully I’ll have some autumn garden projects to share as well.

Its been hot and humid the last few days and feeling pretty tropical. My garden is beginning to look like a jungle since I haven’t bothered weeding or deadheading or much else lately. So although I may have retreated indoors to the AC for a bit, my plants don’t seem to mind the juicy air. In fact, some of them are pretty darn happy.

The dahlias are doing fine. I still have daylilies, shasta daisies, heliopsis, and phlox blooming too. I have plenty of color, now I just need a little pleasant weather so I can get out and enjoy the garden.

Wow – July got away from me. Gardening wasn’t the best, it rained nearly every day. And then it rained some more. At least I didn’t have to drag out the hoses all month. The daylilies were (and are still) beautiful. I picked blueberries and raspberries for weeks. The birds have been wonderful. Wrens and bluebirds are nesting again and feeding their young. Orioles are hitting the grape jelly big-time and hummingbirds are everywhere. Summertime and the livin’ is easy. I’ll weed later.

And lastly, this guy. There used to be really nice little rock garden plants in this planter. Used to be……

One more grouping of daylilies. I couldn’t resist. See you in August!

Have you ever noticed how many plants have flowers that look like fireworks?

The ensata was a stretch but it was too beautiful not to share.

Its been hot, its been chilly, its been wet, its been dry, typical New England. The robins fledged, and the first batch of wrens fledged but they are building again. The bluebirds are building again too. So we will have more entertainment. The varmints continue to do their thing. The baby rabbits are cute but oh so destructive!

I have eight different Iris Ensata. They need to be divided. I have decided that I will dig them in the fall and move to the wet spot where we used to have a willow. I have one ensata there now which is flourishing, and I think I will dig out the lilies and siberian iris that are also in that spot, and then I will put all the ensatas in that area. In the meantime, here are two that are blooming now.

We went to our cabin in Maine for a long weekend. The orchids in the bog were all blooming – both pink and white

The daylilies have begun blooming and they will be the focus for July. Let the fireworks begin!

It been a roller coaster month. Really hot and dry then cool and rainy. Critters galore. The rabbits continue to munch on some favorites. The bluebirds fledged and the robins and wrens are about ready to go. Deer circumvent the perimeter of the meadow. Chipmunks are everywhere now. Fireflies were out the other night. The praying mantis egg cases hatched and the polliwogs turned into frogs. Life goes on.

Today it is 46 and raining. Last Wednesday it was 91 and dry. You have to love the New England weather. We gardeners are not happy that Memorial day observances are rather chilly and wet, but we are thrilled to have the rain to help ease the drought conditions. It has been a busy few weeks. The bluebirds fledged a couple of days ago.. we saw four but there may have been more. The wrens are building everywhere and momma robin has laid some beautiful blue eggs in a cedar tree right outside our breakfast table window. Hummingbirds are regular visitors to the feeder and orioles are slurping up the grape jelly and oranges. We have had other visitors too: deer in the meadow, rabbits, turkeys, a huge milk snake and raccoons. (They left their footprints in the pollen on the front porch). Ready for some flowers?

Happy Memorial Day. We will never forget those who served