Turn of the Season

Wednesday, work-from-home day. Grey, Misty. A midday check of the mailbox inspires me to capture a few images in front of the house.

Foxglove planted under the Red Bud tree. In July this plant was a lost cause at Menard's - and discounted.

Sheffield Chrysanthemum: it keeps on giving every Autumn. And, has been extraordinarily amendable to being divided over the years.

Sheffield is, I think, the last of the bloomers. Here it is mid-October and it's just beginning to hint at blooming.

This year I sowed zinnia seeds between the Blue Fortune and Monarda and the lightpole. Sharon thinks the flowers are too tall. I am inclined to agree. However, late Summer / early Autumn rains encouraged tremendous growth and blooms. 

I moved the two peony shrub at the back fence of the Cottage Garden (see previous photo, above) and plan to sow zinnia seed next Spring. I am curious to see if the flowers grow as tall.

Notice the white clematis bloom (Henri) at the post. I missed it completely when I took the photo! And of course the morning glory too. Aren't these Summer blooms?

Still blooming . . .

The insects really astonished me . . .

Red Trees

Sharon was waiting for Arianna and me when we returned home from Mass this morning. She had extolled the beauty of a stand of trees she passes on her way to Huntley Friday mornings. She wanted us to see them -- while they still had leaves on them.

Odd? 

Not especially. After we returned to the car, a women pulled into the drive, got out, and started snapping pictures with her smart phone.

Autumn brilliance

Bright day. Cool, but lovely.

A jaunt in the yard with camera.

Sheffield Chrysanthemum

Bird at the feeder

The new perennial bed awaiting plants

Litter

What a peculiar year it's been in the garden. We've had a lot of heat and moisture, which accounts for why the vegetable garden took off. Now, contrary to expectations, it's warm and dry. As a result . . . not much too look at as far as fall color is concerned. However, the leaves have almost completely fallen. Rare. For the hickories and oaks tend to hold their leaves, often throughout the length of Winter.

A bird's-eye view of the backyard.