Touch Of Fall in The Air

We've had the most wonderful summer as far as the weather goes.   Everything was a month ahead and so is fall.  Flowers that don't normally bloom until September are in bloom now and most of the potted up annuals have seen their day.   I've been cutting back perennials, another job that I don't usual do for another month or so.   I started lavender plants from seed this spring and finally got them in the ground this week.  Although they are still only small plants, the smell is heady.   I know it's early days, after all it's still August, but this planter looked quite lost and empty with the summer flowers gone so I decided to fill it with some fall decorations I had. 

I haven't taken many pictures of bugs this year, one of my favorite subjects I must admit.  There are loads of bees in the garden which is great to see.  Strangely, I haven't seen any of the larger garden spiders. 

So, here's a lovely butterfly, a butterfly with a bee and a strange looking (moth, maybe) with a bee.

One day last week two dogs came into the garden.  This sent Malachi up a tree.  The boy doesn't look too happy. 

I started these flowers from seed last year, both the yellow and rust.  They were only babies when winter came on and the truth of it is, I had forgotten about them.   You can imagine how pleased I was when they came into bloom this year.  I just love them. 

And, to end off, some neat things I found at the Goodwill on the last visit.

Friday

Although we're still having lovely weather, the feel of fall is in the air.   Some of the fall plants have started blooming already and the summer bloomers have quickly faded.  Most of the annuals that I general put in containers have gone to seed and are looking quite raggedy.  

Another sign of the coming fall.....we had a bear here one night last week.  He/she got up the large tree that I had the platform feeder attached to and hauled it all down.  The feeder itself was licked clean and the tall grass around the tree was flattened.   So I had to spend part of the morning fixing the feeder as it was a bit broken up.  Also had to scour around for some new wood to attach it to the tree again.   No more incidents so far. 

There hasn't been a lot of birds around.  The blue jays are always here of course.  The young ones not trying to beg food from mom and dad anymore.   The nuthatches are here all during the day but not many chick a dees.   I expect with the wonderful summer we've been having they are finding food elsewhere. 

I've been trying for some time to get a picture of a Cabbage White Butterfly.  They've never kept still enough for me.  Last week though I managed to get one. 







I couldn't resist taking a few pictures of this little imp. 

And last but not least, Stanley enjoying the lovely day.

It's a bit of a wet day but never the less I was outside trying to cut back some of the dogwood tree that's made up it's mind to take over the whole property.   Every year I have to do that and yet it seems to come back with a great deal of ferocity.   So, I come in more than a bit wet and decide to do another post. 

Himself arrived back home on Sunday.  He's looking a bit frail and has since been running a fever with stomach cramps.  I expect it's some kind of bug that he's picked up.  Thankfully he has a doctor appointment in a couple of days.   He's still having heart problems and can't do much without becoming very weak.  He's been told by two doctors that there isn't anything they can do about it.  Anyway, enough of that. 

I saw a grasshopper in the garden this week.  I haven't seen any for years and remember when I was a young child walking through my grandmothers garden, they'd be hopping all over the place.   I've been told it's because of the hot dry summer we've been having that they are around.   It landed on the table so I got a picture.  Very cute but probably very destructive.

The Pacific Giant Delphiniums are doing me proud this year.  They are beauties.

Friends were in the area a couple of weeks ago and dropped by for coffee.  They brought the Mexican whom I'd never met before.  What a darling.  She made herself quite a home which was a surprise to all.

The Mexican.

Everything has grown so well this year.  Unfortunately there will be no black currants.  Usually the branches are so laden down with berries that I have to tie them up but the frost hit at the worse time for them and destroyed any chance of berries. 

The Jays are here all the time with the young ones.  Such a lot of noise. 

A couple of angels in the garden.  One on a rock and one sleeping at the foot of a tree.  

 
                                                                              Well, I don't know what happened here but I'll continue

                                                                                on with a few pictures around the garden.

Well, this got all screwed up, lol.  Oh well!  Que sera, sera!

Raindrops On Roses

It's been a wonderful year for roses.  I've never had so many on my trees and the perfume is awesome.  So, a few pictures.

The Beach and Other Stuff.

The Honeysuckle is in bloom.  This is a plant largely ignored by me until one day I go by it and wonder where the most beautiful perfume I've ever smelled is coming from.   I wish I could bottle it and carry it around with me forever.  

The weather has been lovely.  I wish this would stay forever as well.  Winter will be here soon enough....not a season I look forward too.   My daughter and grandson came for a visit last week.  It was great to see them.   One evening after supper we went down to the beach.  It's only a few minutes walk down the road, something I should take advantage of more often.

Grandson on beach.

 Around the beach.

Pretty flowers in the garden.

Two of the boys enjoying the sunny day and one sleeping baby.