Happy Halloween

Chance of snow tonight. Of course, it probably won't stick to anything, including the petunias and cosmos that are still blooming. But at least it will give everyone a chance to find the winter coats before the real season change sets in! What I could really use is enough rain to soften the ground and allow me to dig some holes for all my baby trees...


Meanwhile, here are my outdoor Halloween decorations--just for fun.

By the way, I highly recommend Extreme Pumpkins and Extreme Pumpkins II by Tom Nardone for your jack-o-lantern inspiration. A cut above your average Halloween porch light. (Pun intended!) What a hoot!

Happy Halloween and happy haunting!

October Fall Color

Fall color continues to be a bit strange this year. The windstorm and drought seem to have confused the normal tree color change. Brown leaves are all over the spotty grass. Some of the flowers are behind. Here are some more sunflowers opening up. And, the hydrangea is not ready to quit yet.





But, the shrubbery is putting on a better fall color show--like this crape myrtle. And, the holly is loaded with beautiful red berries.

Fall Sunflower

My straggling sunflowers are now starting to bloom (among the halloween decorations)!

Oddly, below the sunflowers is the best basil this year, too. I guess it appreciated the mottled shade provided by the taller plants.

Fall Flowers and Stuff

Okay, I've been a bit out of touch lately. First there was the Buddy Walk, then the big wind storm and 5 days without any power (or air conditioning or cold beer or google) while on jury duty. Then, of course, it was time to put up the Halloween decorations. (More on that later.) Whee.

So, I'm back at it to share my wacky, unpredictable garden. Check it out. This picture was taken September 30 in Zone 6. Yup, Easter lily. Go figure. And a sunflower. Really.


















Back to the wind storm. In conjunction with the drought we are experiencing, the storm seems to have thrown us into a rapid, albeit relatively colorless, fall season. Just when we've gotten the downed limbs and twigs cleared, the leaves are falling by the treeful. Here's my brush pile lining the front of my yard. The city came by and ground them up Saturday--just 20 days after the storm. Not too bad considering some people didn't have power for 9 or more days. I was happy to hear the grinder at 8 a.m. Saturday, even though I am so not a morning person! If I'd been dressed, I might even have gone out to hug the workers...