weather patterns

The new weather patterns persist: it's mid September and the nights are dark early, the mornings are cold, we've had our first frost and the leaves are just beginning to change color. In fact, in my neighborhood the leaves are still resolutely green. this is different--generally by this time of year, fall is more established as far as color changes go. This is what was described to me as a native Lobelia. Generally when plants are described as "native" you can expect them to grow widely in all directions and put up roots seven houses away. So far this plant has behaved fairly well and the flowers are like the Lobelia's second cousin, once removed.

The Colchicums are blooming and charming as always. I love the way they simply appear on a fall morning and stick around until they fear frostbite and then quietly slip back into the earth for another season. Soon it will be time to pack things away and winter-proof the awnings. The trick is to find a day when your fingers aren't blue and stiff with cold. Or find a strong helper with calloused winter-resistant hands. I like the latter choice.

Now That Was a Strange Summer

I'm not complaining about the summer. We endured one or two mini tornadoes (not so mini to the people who suffered trees crashing into their kitchens)but never a direct hit on my house. Lots and lots of rain and just enough sunshine to remind us we're happy to not be sweltering. This combination didn't do much for my garden plot. The spinach washed out three times so I stopped planting it A few tomatoes struggled through and left a small but satisfying harvest. The beans were fine but the peppers never got past the starting line and the strawberries decided to wait for next year The bird feeders hang from an iron garden arch where roses merge with the trumpet vine. Somehow it works. Sometime during the lamentable growing season, I planted a pumpkin vine in that combo and what do you know--a pumpkin is actually thriving. That's the wonder of it all--you spend the winter planning and sketching garden plots and buying seeds. The actual growing part is hit and miss, at least in my little piece of heaven. The birds and rabbits seem to like it here and soon we'll have pumpkin pie. Come to thin of it, it was a beautiful summer.