2011 Summer’s End Party

My summer is one big long party for me, when I get to spend it in the garden.  There is no greater joy for me than to be outside on a warm summers day up to my elbows in dirt.

How fitting after our first storm of the season and our first frost overnight, to be in on a summer’s end party.  I am just recapping some of my favorite shots of my garden this summer.  I have more photos than you really want to see so I dug thru my files and chose a few to share.

Some you have seen in previous posts and others you have not.

This morning glory was one of my surprises this summer, it grew up the rose trellis attached to the chicken house.  Each morning this past month I was greeted with fresh unique blossoms, no two were ever alike! They made my heart sing.



My other surprise late in the season, this Pink Swirl hibiscus.  It was in a pot all winter in my greenhouse, I had forgotten what it was and the marker had been misplaced, it was a mere bare stick when I plopped it into the ground about July.  It struggled and grew a mere foot or two high, then finally I recognized the foliage but I did NOT think it would bloom this year. And yet, here she is in all her girly glory!



This Heavenly morning glory grew in one of my window boxes, the blue jays planted it for me.  I caught them again just this past week tucking more seeds into my hanging pots.  Why, I have not a clue but it shall be interesting to see what morning glories I get next year.



My favorite garden decoration is my Ladies.  I do not let them roam outside of there pen much, we have neighborhood dogs that love to chase them.  Every now and again I let them out while I can sit outside and watch over them.



One of my new plants, Tomato Soup echinacea, it was a stunner! I also have an orange one called Tiki Torch and for some reason I did not get a good photo of it. 



Some of my favorites were the out of no where volunteers.  This Rose Campion cropped up and made it’s home in amongst the Black Eyed susies.  The color literally glowed.



Some areas not tended at all this year thrived despite the neglect.



And looked just as good as areas better treated!



Another new favorite I started from seed, Cappuccino rudbeckia.  This flower was a full 5 inches across, it was huge and gorgeous.  The one plant is thick with blooms and stay upright, no need to stake.



I have only a couple of these Leopard Lilies but they never fail to thrill me.



If the frost has not terminally damaged my geraniums by tomorrow I will shake the dirt from their roots and hang them in paper bags in my basement. 

 Last year I overwintered them in the house but they did not seem to do that well.  I have read about the basement trick and we shall see if it works.  If not I have a bazillion seeds to start fresh one next season and a ton of seedlings now in the greenhouse. 

I have turned loose of summer and am getting ready for my winter projects.  I have a new crochet wrap pattern I am dying to make. I bought the yarn today.  This is what it should look like when done but in a seamist color instead of the taupe.
click on link below to access this pattern
http://www.naturallycaron.com/projects/vail_mountain/vail_mountain_1.html

What I like most about it is that it is done in the individual squares then you put them together so it will be easy to cart it with me to work on whenever I have to sit and wait somewhere or as I sit with my hubby while he watches t.v.  I can’t seem to just sit and watch t.v., I have to be busy doing something.
(I have to correct the statement above, I thought it was individual squares but it seems that you crochet them on when you make the squares)

I had a great day today, we ran to the Valley to do some shopping.  The golden hills along Hwy 4 were lovely, lots of baby calves in the fields with their moms.  I was wishing I had my camera with me. 
Later all…