Clearly Mother Nature has a Calendar

We all know that fall begins on September 20-21 with the Vernal Equinox - right?  But, clearly Mother Nature keeps her own calendar.  No matter what the summer has been like - how hot and humid, or dry and windy, or wet and cool.  It doesn't seem to matter.  As soon as Labor Day is gone, the season begins to change.

The fall-blooming plants have started to kick into gear.

 Sedum is starting to bloom, 

 This Madrona will turn a rich coppery red when it is fully bloomed.

a few chrysanthemums are showing color,

 

the dogwood is full of berries,

 even the earliest camellia is covered with buds.  

Camellia sasanqua 'Sparkling Burgundy' - it blooms in October.

 There's no holding it back.  Fall is on its way!

Wednesday Workday

I'm taking the day off ...

... to enjoy my new book -  66 Square Feet - a Delicious Life - which was published yesterday and arrived in my living room today!  Written and photographed by Marie Viljoen of Brooklyn (and the world!).  And, happily a blog friend of mine.

If you love food (eating or cooking), gardening (especially in containers and small spaces), The Big Apple, strong willed black cats (and who doesn't?) or just plain good writing you should be following her blog: 66 Square Feet.  And, if you love a good wonder thru life, then consider getting her book.  I happen to know that Amazon carries it.

Now, please excuse me while I go back to reading.  See you Friday.

Hard to call it "Labor"

The garden is an oasis right now.  Past the flashy richness of June and July, past the heat of August, and back to the cooler mornings of late summer.  Plenty of flowers to cut for the house right now, and some early deadheading done to aid with fall clean-up.

 Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood' - blooms in August.  One of my favorites.

 The liliput zinnias are going strong.  They seem to have a second wind now that it's a bit cooler.

 A pink salvia.  I bought it as an annual, but this is its third year.  Wish I knew what it is.

Love the dark purple ageratum.  It's probably annual, but one can hope ...

 The Ladies Mantle blooms in the fall for me.

But the hibiscus is still going strong.

 

 

 

So much to enjoy.  Not enough time.  

Happy Labor Day!

Opera in the Park - Oh, My!

Summer is winding down, but can you think of a nicer wrap up than a picnic in the park with the music you love - and all for free?

It was a lovely warm evening last night 

at Dogwood Dell with enough breeze to keep the bugs away.

A bit of picnic - bread, cheese, tomato jam, Asian pears and wine, of course - and plenty of entertainment. 

Our music of choice is opera, so the Virginia Opera invited us, along with 3,500 or our best friends for an evening of opera and Broadway classics.  A good time was had by all.

I hope they sold a few tickets, too.  We already have ours.