Fall Arrangements

Yesterday the sun was out so pretty so I thought I
would take advantage of it and roam about the hills
to take some pictures.
I went to several spots that I enjoy but ended up back
at an old favorite at Conkle's Hollow.
I was there at the beginning of Fall when all of the
Autumn flowers were at their peak and the butterflies
were everywhere, the sound of the bees and birds
filled the air.

But Friday the butterflies and bees were very
much absent.





The flowers were all done with their blooms
of bright yellow on goldenrod.





All that remained were the golden brown heads
of the blooms.





The ironweed with its brilliant purple blooms
were all but blown away.






Beautiful heads of grass that remained blown about
by the cold breeze looked golden in the sun.





Even the grasses growing on a patch of ground in
middle of the stream were now dormant from the
cold freezes and frost.
Ice was even now forming along the edges of the
creek and in places there was a small coating of it
forming upon the water.



The only color than stood out was the red of the
berries from briers that grew along the stream.




Further up in the hollow that is ringed on all
sides by rock cliffs the air was much colder and there
only the mosses and ferns were green.





Even the ferns seemed almost lonely and
forlorn amongst the layer of leaves.




I was the only one visiting Friday and the quiet was
so striking as I ventured up into the hollow.
Even the birds were silent up in the cold hollow.
I finally got froze out and started back out looking
for signs of birds that were so absent in the hollow.
As I got back out across the bridge and into the
sunlight again I heard a Nuthatch but could not
seem to get a sight of it. I did spy two Chickadees
fussing and making a racked in a water birch tree.






Its peeling bark looked so pretty in the sunlight.
Then a heard a noise up above me in the sky
and there was beauty in wings spread wide against
the blue sky. It is times like this one when I covet a
better camera lens.





Frozen to the bone and shivering I started walking
to the car. I felt so refreshed and alive though to have
spent the alone time amongst all of these beautiful things.

Happy Gardening Everyone and
Have a Wonderful Weekend!

Time For the Yearly Invasion

Well I have good news and bad.
The dreaded hard freeze and frost did not happen
as predicted. Thank Heavens! I was dreading looking
out the window to see all of the dead plants and
flowers. I just knew if it was 27 degrees they were a
gonner. When I looked out they looked a little wilted
but were not mush so I checked at in was 35 degrees.
So we missed the big freeze so far.
And now we are having a few days of beautiful
sunshine and some warmer temps, it being up to a
whopping 63 degrees. Yeah!!!
Buttttt--- with the warmer weather it means the
farmers are rushing to get in their crops from the
field which is good, buttttt............ when the corn is
getting picked and it is the last warm days of the season
that means that the old pesky, dirty, stinking Asian Lady
Bugs are trying to get into the houses for the Winter.
I will not expound on how much I hate them again this
year by posting a whole section on them .If you want to
read up on them go to a posting I wrote last year
Lady Bug Invasion



Oh, I know you just love Lady Bugs, Birds or Beetles.
So do I but these are not your usual Lady Bugs.
There is a big difference.



The Autumn leaves are falling so fast here
in the Hills this year. With a little rain all
of the pretty leaves will be gone and all that will be
left will be the brown oak leaves. The big Sycamore
trees along Salt Creek have already fallen and
the trees are bare but their white bark will still
make them pretty this Winter.



I have a stand of beautiful yellow Maple leaves
behind my house and they are falling off fast.







I also have this Maple tree that always has the
brightest red leaves on it and they are going too.
One year I had a car load of college students that
were from Japan jump out and set in the yard and
take pictures of it. I wondered at the time if they
thought they were on park owned land. I was glad
that they were enjoying the leaves.





There are touches of orange leaves around in
the woods behind the house too.

The Sumac are so pretty in Autumn with their
red leaves and berries hanging from them.



The Sassafras trees which are in large supply
are so golden yellow. How many love Sassafras tea?



Even the brier leaves are pretty in the Fall
with their variegated leaves.




The berries of the Green briers are in plain sight now.

The field across from the house was so pretty
last week with all of its colors and pines.



Trees of russet color are nearby.




Autumn splendor at its best.

Annie Get The Gun

Behind the house there is a stand of Elderberries
and Poke berries that the birds just love to get
into. Since I do not do anything with the berries
it is good that they are getting put to some good use.
The birds are not the only ones that love the berries
the deers love them too. I do not even care if they eat
them because if they are eating them they are leaving
my flowers and shrubs alone.



Spotting this little lady hiding in the berries
or trying to but her greed for the berries and
how tasty they were soon had her out in the
open and not paying much attention to the
owner with the camera.



After eating all of the ones that were in reach
she went about stretching to get some more
that were higher up.



Now how do I reach those?



What you cannot reach by stretching you
can always just knock over.



Those are some very tasty poke berries.



They would be easier eating if you would
just turn around.
Talk about your lazy eating.



The berries on the green briers are not too bad
either.



When I was finally spotted taking the pictures
of the berry thief I get this look.



Then she had the audacity to tell me,
"I never touched a thing, it was the birds."

Friday Blooms

It is Friday already and time to "Flaunt Your Flowers"
with Tootsie, over at Tootsie Time. So go on over and
join us on ' Fertilizer Friday' in flaunting your
flowers while they are still blooming.


This morning is another cool morning wit a crisp
breeze and the humidity is gone. Feels like a Fall
morning as it has all this week.
The squirrels are running around in the woods around
the house and in the big Oak tree in the yard eating
their fill of acorns and hickory nuts. I watched one for
quite a while yesterday as it carried a walnut, almost as big
as its head, gliding and jumping from tree to tree to a nest.
We use to have flying squirrels in the woods but have not
saw one now for a few years.
The katydids, praying mantis, walking sticks and crickets
are seen now all around the flower beds, and they are
making quite a racket. There is a constant drone of sound
now through out the yard and in the woods.

On to what is blooming.



The poor Moonbeam Coreopsis is on her final blooms....



but the Gerbera Daisies are still looking pretty.



The containers of Nicotiana and Petunia's are still
blooming but are getting fewer now.



I cannot decide whether I like the red Nicotinia or the
dark pink the best so I have them both.



The on going saga of the mixed up Orchid Mist double
blooming petunia goes on with this one putting out single
blooms.






The Nora Leigh variegated phlox has put on a few more
blooms since she was dead headed.



The poor Knockout Rose ' Rosa Radrazz ' that has been
move around so much, is putting on a few blooms. Don't
tell her that she will be moved this fall once again.



The purple 'Stock ' blooms are getting fewer and her
stems are full of, what I hope are seed pods, since she is
new to me.
Gardeners, do I break off the pods and dry them to get more
seeds or do I wait until they turn brown on the plant?



And what would I do without my geraniums?






Gardeners Choice Geranium



Sedum 'Neon' blooms are starting to turn neon pink.



Stachy is new and did not bloom this year but its woolly
leaves are so pretty and it growing fast now.




The Amethyst ' Browalia' finally showed up, better late
than never this summer. She really took her time.



The birds are dining on the Elderberries down along the
woods......



and the Poke berries are starting to ripen.



This Great Spangled Fritillary was getting a drink from
the Purple Heart that was just watered.

Happy FF Day and Happy Gardening Everyone!