Falling for Autumn

This fall, I think I have changed my mind about my favorite season. I always rave about how much I like summer, but now I'm not so sure. See, after the summer drought, we all expected autumn to be a drab affair. Instead the opposite was true. I've never seen autumn so lovely. It's a perfect time for drives in the country.

Now I don't know if the extra colors have anything to do with the drought or not.

Maybe we just learn to appreciate everything more as time goes on. 

But it's not important why autumn is so beautiful. I've simply learned to appreciate the beauty of a perfect fall day just as much as I do a perfect summer day.

On days like this, there are no worries.

Nothing seems to matter except being in the moment.

All you need is the sunshine on your face and your feet on the ground.

So come along and fall for autumn with me, it only lasts a little while.

The Fall Garden

Mild fall weather here has allowed my garden to keep looking good for awhile longer. The light frosts haven't done it much damage quite yet. We expect to enjoy pansies,

Pansy pot

mums,

Hot Salsa mums

Pink mums

and sedums in October.

Penny ball and pink mums

And black eyed susans wouldn't be a complete surprise.

Rudbeckia

Sunflowers aren't out of the question.

Sunflower

I was surprised to find these daisies blooming. But when I saw the same daisies at Lowe's, I realized they were Montauk daisies for the fall. I found them languishing at the back of my garden last year and couldn't figure out what they were. Once I moved them up front, they began to put out flowers. I don't even remember planting them, as they haven't bloomed for a few years.

Montauk daisy

Some of my roses look good still, and that has also been a surprise. The foliage doesn't look good at all, but these flowers are just as pretty as ever.

Funny Face rose

Michelangelo rose

Fourth of July rose

Fourth of July

Oranges and Lemons

But the biggest surprise of all was finding my iris in bloom! I always make sure to plant reblooming iris, but I never really expect that to be true. And it really wasn't true, this one never bloomed in the spring. Strange. This is Earl of Essex. Beautiful!

Earl of Essex

I hope my fall garden hangs on for awhile longer. I never really want to let it go....

Front porch

Those Perfect Fall Days

There is nothing that distracts me more than a perfect fall day. The sun will be shining, the sky is clear blue,  the leaves are a kaleidoscope, and that's how it starts. Soon, all thoughts of housework are banished, and I'm off on a walk through the woods.

 Now I meant to do my work on this day. After all, there were clothes to put away, dishes to wash, mail to sort through, and errands to run. But I did none of it.

Instead, I grabbed my camera for a quick hike to the top of my mountain.

 Trust me, it is no mountain. Just a nearby hill I can see out my bedroom window. I call it my mountain when I see it there. It's called Chestnut Ridge, and it's the perfect place to spend an autumn afternoon.

 I'm not sure that my still-ailing knee approved of the adventure, but I was determined to go anyway. I'd go slow, I told myself. I'd only go to the overlook, then turn around, I said.

 But there were things to keep pulling me on. If I just go a little farther, I can see the pretty meadow, is what I said to myself.

Around the next curve is that far off view of the nearby hills.

 And on I went, of course. Maybe over here I'll see those charming white squirrels.

 Soon I had whiled away several hours on my gentle hike through the woods. I wasn't tired, and my knee wasn't sore, but my heart was full. You know you are in a lovely place when you often sigh in contentment.

Those perfect fall days will do it to me every time.

Letting go.....

My love of summer is no secret. It's my favorite season, by far. The long warm days with the garden in full bloom, what's not to love? But fall is coming on here in central Ohio. That means my goodbye to summer is at hand. It is officially autumn already, but many of the days are still warm and sunny. So it doesn't really feel like fall yet until you look at the trees. The changing leaves tell the real story. I'm going to have to let go of summer, and soon.

Sedum Autumn Joy with penny ball

"White sunflower with dead lawn

My garden is fading, even as the summer flowers linger on.

Picasso petunias

Lantana

But the fall flowers are taking center stage instead.

Mona Lavender plecanthrus

Hot Salsa mums

Seeded dahlias

So I need to start my goodbyes. The summer is fading fast. Summer's favorites won't be here much longer.

Summer container

Portaluca

 

It's hard. When my garden fades away, I get a little sad. During the long, cold winter, I really miss my flowers. I've planned the garden so there is some winter interest here and there, but it's just not the same as having flowers.

Sedum Angelina

Bonfire Euphorbia

It's time to start letting go, even while the flowers are still beautiful. Only a few weeks until the first frost. That's when the goodbyes really start.

Favorite foliage container

Cecile Parade rose

 I just have to remember not to cry, they'll be back next year. Wait, they aren't even gone yet! I'd better go enjoy them one more time.