The calendar has turned to September, and the kids are back to school. But that doesn't mean it feels like fall. It's still plenty hot and sticky, and it feels like August. But soon, very soon, the days will start to cool, and it will actually *feel* like September. I hope anyway! I really like the cool, clear days that usually characterize September. Bring it on!
I'm a big fan of October too, and fall in general. But no, I don't care one bit about pumpkin spice lattes. It seems that's all anyone cares about this time of year! I won't rush through September though, it's one of my favorite months.
It's not quite summer, it's not quite fall. Flowers are still blooming with abandon, but the vegetable garden is fading fast. It was not a banner year for vegetables, that's for sure. As a matter of fact, it was one of the worst harvest years ever. Luckily, the tomatoes are still producing. Come winter, I'm sure going to miss having fresh tomatoes every day. The carrots did well, as you can see.
Many of my perennials finish up their blooming by September, so I depend on annuals. The snapdragons, zinnias, dahlias, coleus, and moss roses are carrying the load when it comes to garden color.
I haven't seen as many butterflies this month as I usually do, and I'm disappointed in that. It's monarch season, and I've only seen one so far. However, I do have some visitors in my kitchen...aren't they cute? One of the other master gardeners was passing out these monarch caterpillars recently, and I said I'd raise a couple to maturity. I've always meant to try this!
I did catch one making its chrysalis, but couldn't manage to get a decent photo of the process. Still, it was absolutely fascinating! Now I'm waiting for the other one to do the same, before I run out of milkweed. I hope I don't miss the transition to butterfly. It will be another week or so before that happens. I don't care how old you are, this is an amazing thing to see! Stayed tuned for the arrival of the butterflies themselves.
Hope you enjoyed my September sights, I know I sure did!
You have plenty of pretty color here at the end of summer to enjoy as Fall eases in. I love the pink zinnia. And wait to see the pretty butterfly that emerges. It is always fun to nature play out.
ReplyDeleteRaising that butterfly was thrilling! See my next post for updates.
DeleteAwesome post, Robin! Really love those zinnias! The deer ate mine for the first time a few weeks ago...they were safe all summer, too! Do you miss your winged friend that flew the coop?
ReplyDeleteI really do miss the monarchs that I raised, it was so very much fun!
DeleteRobin your photos are just spectacular. Lots still happening in your garden. Thanks for your comments about the Caterpillars. The way I've found the chrysalis outside is to just keep searching for the caterpillars hanging, that 24 hour period helps because the stripes stand out much better than the green case. I've found all but one now. The last one might get away from me tho! I will be keeping track of the three I know about and I agree, it's absolutely amazing to watch. Never gets old.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kathleen, your photos are also lovely and inspiring to me! I hope you saw your monarchs transform!
DeleteRobin the backlighting on the flowers is simply gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteDoes your Verbena bonasensis take forever to bloom also? Mine just squeaks by not even sprouting until late July...I hope that the seeds take again next spring...it's so hard to find.
Jen
Yes, it doesn't bloom till July sometime. Once I see the sprouts, it seems to shoot right up though, and keeps going till frost. I get a few months out of them. I haven't had a hard time finding the seeds online here in the US. Good luck, they are worth the effort!
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