Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Goings On in The Garden

Good morning everyone.
Yesterday was a rainy day here in the hills.  I was glad to hear that Texas got some much needed rain over the weekend.
On the morning stroll around the yard to see what was still in bloom I heard some little meow’s in the Rose Garden.

Kittens_Flowerbed With all of the feral cats around here my garden beds have become a favorite place to hide new born kittens. I usually find a litter in the Spring and one in the Fall. This is the new Fall litter. One coal black one and another one that has the funniest markings.

Scarecrow_2011
I got a small amount of Fall decorating done Saturday while the sun was shining. This is the iron scarecrow I got at the Backwoods Festival. I had had a wooden one for years that was falling apart but this one should last me for years to come.I had to bend his poor arms up because of the small area in between the garage doors. Now he looks more fierce and like he is really trying to scare someone or maybe he just looks more funny I am not sure. LOL!

Elderberries_Spider
The birds are busy eating the Elderberries that are growing along the woods. I guess this spider thought it was a good place to set up a web but it may become the lunch if it is not careful.

 Gloriosa_Lily
I found another flower that I can add to the “I tried it and now I am over it” list. This Gloriosa Rothchildiana Lily just did not make the grade for me but maybe it will look better next year since this has been an awful year to have container plants around here.

HornedTomatoWorm
Speaking of container plants, my tomatoes did not do so well either this summer so when I spotted this Tomato Hornworm eating the leaves I just told it to eat its fill. LOL!

Horned_ToamtoWorm Have you ever watched the jaws on these worms? They are munching machines! LOL! They are much prettier as big green moths.

Cleome_Pinks2
I noticed the Cleome blooms were setting on some seed pods that I can collect and save for next year.

SweetAutumn2_Clematis
The Sweet Autumn clematis is now in full bloom.

One thing about all of the rain we have had is that I have not had to water in the new plantings so far.

Monarda_JacobCline
Over the weekend I managed to get a new Monarda Jacob Cline planted.

Daylily_ChicagoApache A new daylily Chicago Apache was planted. I love daylilies and have several ordered to plant this Fall.
Plus a couple of new Echinacea’s and I found a Red Fox veronica to replace the one that had died this summer  at Menard’s on Friday marked down to $1.99 so it got planted.
Snakeroot_JamesCompton
A new Snakeroot “James Compton” from Bluestone Perennials was also added to the new corner bed.
They are all enjoying the rain.

Cyclamen_Hardy I saw that the Hardy Cyclamen’s were starting to bloom without their leaves.

Callicarpa_PurpleBeautyBerry_Profusion 
And that the Callicarpa Purple Beauty Berry “Profusion” that was planted last year has just a few berries on it this year.

MorningGlory_BluePicotee 
The Blue Picotee Morning Glory is still blooming on the old fence but its leaves are yellowing…

Moonvine_Buds
And the Moon Vine has buds forming but its leaves are really yellowing since the cool, wet days have arrived. This has been the first time that I have gotten them to grow for me and I would really like to see at least one bloom before they die out.

Neon_Stonecrop The “Neon” Stonecrop has just a few blooms. It really needs a sunnier spot in the garden.

Asters_Rain The purple Asters were wet and doing their usual thing of lying on the ground.

So the blooms are fewer in the garden but plans are moving ahead for next years garden. There is even the little surprises still appearing here and there.
That is what is going on in the garden.
What is going on in your garden"? Any surprises?
Anyone want a kitten ? LOL!
Everyone Have a wonderful week and
Happy Gardening,
Lona

25 comments:

Liz said...

Hi Lona,

Lovely photos, I do hope you get some nice dry weather before Autumn really kicks in!

I'm always amazed how huge the HawkMoth Caterpillars are; which type will it be? I've never seen them on Tomatoes before??? Interesting.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Lona girl how are you !
Those kittens are adorable .. good thing I am so far away or I would be sat on your kitchen chair gabbing away, petting kittens ! LOL
My advice for the butterfly bush is Nanho Blue .. try that one out first because it is a hardy one!
My Sweet Autumn have smothered their arbors and the Yellow Wax Bells are drooping in profusion ? from the rain .. which we needed anyways : ) You have a jump on me with your decorations girl, can you believe THAT ?LOL
Joy

Becca's Dirt said...

The purple asters are pretty. That is one that I want to add to my gardens for next fall. I am getting geared up for next spring too. Last year I failed to plan well and I had so many empty spaces this year. I take it that isn't your kitten. My neighbor has a female and everytime she comes in there is a litter of kittens around. For now there is two kittens left from the last year and now living in my yard. I suppose these two will be female and then.... I may have to say something they aren't gonna like.

scottweberpdx said...

I adore this time of year for planting and moving things in the garden. I SO need to add some more Actea to my garden...I love them so much when I see them in other people's gardens. Those kittens are pretty much the most adorable thing I've seen all day!

HolleyGarden said...

Those kittens are cute, but feral cats multiply fast! We try to catch all the ones here and get them 'fixed'. There is some place up north that gives out birth control they are such a problem. I love the scary look of your scarecrow. And your pumpkins look so cheerful. I hope your Moonvine blooms for you. The flowers are amazing. The stonecrop bloom is in the shape of a heart!

Jennifer said...

Hi Lona, I like your scarecrow in his smart red shirt and overalls. Come fall, I knew I would be sorry that I was not able to find a Sweet Autumn Clematis at a local nursery. Maybe next year! For now, I will admire yours.
I have also been admiring the many unusual varieties of morning glories that I have been seeing on various blogs. Morning glories are also going on next year's list!
P.S. The kittens are so cute. I hope they can find homes.

D said...

You still have so much beauty in the garden, Lona. We are in the mid 80's yet, but I'm ready for fall. ;) Have a great week.

Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...

Love the new header... very autumnish. Cute kittens. I miss having a kitty.
Can't believe there are any elderberries left!! My bush in VA used to be cleaned off in a hot second!

Anonymous said...

So now you are growing kittens in your garden? That's a new one on me! Hope we got the rain you did, I am actually on vacation this week on Marco Island in Florida. What a beautiful place! Someone said the tomato hornworm was the caterpillar for a luna moth, but it's not true, they look slightly different. But the hornworm moth is still pretty.

Lori at Jarvis House said...

The Callicarpa will produce bunches of berries if you really trim it back. Each year I clip it down in the late winter. Robins and Cardinals love to eat the berries, so in the very late winter I trim the whold shrub a lot. Then it makes more berries than plants in the wild or untrimmed shrubs.

Patsy said...

Love your fall hearder and looking at your flowers and new kittens.

Karen said...

Lona, always a pleasure to visit. I strolled through the craft fair first because I missed that post earlier this week. Amazing amount of really neat crafts for sale and I'm thinking that's the sort of stone house I should be building, lol.

So now you have kittens again, oh, dear! I loved seeing all the new things you have planted for next season already, you've got me beat. I'm still debating if I want to yank anything out yet. Can't seem to get motivated this week, not sure if it's the weather or the change of seasons. That tomato hornworm is scary!

debsgarden said...

The garden kitties are so cute! The scarecrow looks like a little boy jumping out to scare you, but he is too sweet to succeed.

Unknown said...

What a beautiful garden of flowers you have going on. The kittens are so darn cute, love them!
I hope your Moon Vine blooms also as I'd like to see it! I've never been able to get them to grow much less see one in flower.
Those tomato hornworms sure are amazing looking aren't they!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photos! I love your fall decorations at your garage. Planted up two containers of pansies yesterday, need to get more.

Indie said...

I love the hardy cyclamen - so pretty! The kittens are quite cute as well. I am currently trying to type with a cat on my lap :)

I noticed you even redecorated your blog for fall! I absolutely love your collages that you put on the top of your page. In fact, when I first came across your blog, I immediately bookmarked it because the collage was the prettiest one I'd ever seen!

Anonymous said...

The kitties are cuties, but we have a slew of feral cats in this neighborhood mass producing semiannually. My Sweet Autumn has bloomed pretty well this year too considering the dry hot summer. I really the the photograph of yours. But, we too have been getting the late summer rains as well. Very much welcomed too. I am hoping no seed pods on the Cleome or that is all I would have in the garden next year since they are all 4 feet tall and the size of shrubs.

Anonymous said...

Lona, The autumn design of your blog looks great! As do your photos. The kittens are so cute. We have had two beagles for so long I had forgotten how much fun cats can be..... Your Asters look so nice. Love the colors....

Jane Doe said...

What a colorful fall blog background! The cat and kittens are darling and the flowers make me sigh. Soon, I keep telling myself. Love the little banner that states "A word verification free blog" Yaaayyy!!!

Sunray Gardens said...

Lovely photos. Nice to see your getting your new things in the ground with all this rain we've been getting to help them along. I transplanted a couple things and planted out a few new things.

The cats are adorable. I love the little tabby, they are my favorite dometic cats. Have a nice week.
Cher Sunray Gardens
Goldenray Yorkies

Anonymous said...

Very autumnal post! It is so funny how we are all revived by fall and ready to plant. True gardeners! I love the morning glory with the white edge-- I will have to try that one.

jerilanders said...

I don't know Lona, that scarecrow doesn't appear very fierce to my crows...in fact, they are laughing hysterically and cracking the most obnoxious jokes!

Autumn Belle said...

Refreshing post with lovely fall flowers, cute kitties, a monster-looking caterpilar and a smilingly sweet scarecrow.

RURAL said...

Well if summer is winding down in your garden it's hard to tell. It really looks beautiful in the rain.

Still loving that picote morning glory.

But I bypassed the spider quickly, LOL.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Anonymous said...

Oh, I hope you get to see a moon flower too Lona, before it's all over. I can't believe you've switched out your header!! Wait ~ it's officially fall tomorrow ~ sorry! I keep thinking it's still August! I'm so not ready...

I would love to say I've tried a gloriosa lily and am over it. I've tried and tried them and can't get them to do ANYTHING. ugh. I think the blooms look so cool ~ wish I could figure out the secret.
I also LOVE the markings of the one kitten. So striking. If I lived near you, I would be very tempted! Hope you find them homes. Enjoy the rain and your fall decorating is looking good.