Beautiful Fall Day

Today was beautiful. It was windy, cool, in the 50's and I loved it. Last week we had a couple of days in the 70's. Tonight frost is expected. I actually woke up early and was thankful for the extra hour of sleep. It's time to take down the trellis out front with the black eyed Susan vine. I retrieved 2 seeds. So little for so many blooms. I was able to clear the shelves in my dining room for seed starting at the end of December. I need at least one shelf for the heat mat. I am thinking of starting gloxinia seedlings in November so they will have an early start and not take space from other seedlings in December that may need the mat. I have never had a gloxinia plant. It will be nice to have another flowering house plant and have some to give as gifts.

Today I also repotted the small orchid and another house plant. I still have 2 African violets to pot up on another day. It was a busy day for me. I worked outside in the morning  then came inside and started a multitude of chores. Trying to finish hanging heavier drapes to help keep down drafts. Cooked Sunday dinner; roast beef with gravy, rice, collard greens, and corn bread. I have yet to iron, but I did get to do and fold some laundry. I tidied up the living room and dinning room. The most important thing I didn't do, prepare lunch for tomorrow so I can stop going to Dunkin Donuts in the morning. I was supposed to make a green salad and a fruit salad from the fruit and vegetables I brought from the produce market yesterday. That will be no excuse not to take fruit to work. 

Apples are so good this time of year and there are so many varieties. I like tart crisp apples. Normally I buy enough to last for a few weeks. I store them in my shed kitchen that stays cold. I haven't made the trip to Reading Terminal or to the Farmers Market to get some. Hopefully I will before apple season is over and the good varieties are gone. I will take fruit tomorrow, it just won't be in a salad, and I always take baby carrots. If I don't make coffee at home to take to work, there will be no coffee tomorrow morning. 

I may try a different vine here next year. The silver dusty miller usually overwinters in this region but I will cut it.

The pansies are beautiful. For some reason the ones I put in the sidewalk planters did not do well at all. I don't expect them to live till Spring. The sweet potato vine continues to hang in there.

I have to locate seed for pansies this color. I had seeds for blue ones from Botanical Interest but so far I haven't had success with them.

The vinca and English ivy are evergreen here. I will have to cut the sweet potato vine.

Alabama Sunset Coleus cuttings. They accidentally broke of when I was finally planting up the cuttings. Strawberry begonia in the background. She is still hanging in there. It was much larger and had babies. I made the mistake of not removing babies and they dried up. I hope it will make more if the plant lives.

Finally planted and watered. They actually are doing very well and haven't lost many leaves.