Sunday

And next week October arrives. I love this time of year. As you can see I'm on my computer and watching a You Tube  video with Summer Rayne Oakes doing a home tour. The title is, What's it Like to Live in a Greenhouse?

               

Side view of the mantel. Then to the door to sit on the porch for a few minutes. It's balmy today. The air is thick and air conditioning would help but I've stopped using it until next spring or summer. Which ever season dictates turning it on. Birds are singing. Outdoor cats being mischievous. Climbing the tree outside my door and using the window unit air conditioner as a place to land when coming down from the tree. He obviously unfortunately catches some birds or else he wouldn't go up there many times every day. But one day he was deterred by a squirrel. Standing it's ground and daring it to climb up. My cat sits at the door and enjoys the antics.

She's arrived. I put a glass barrier between her and getting out the door although I believe she's too fat to get through. Although another cat visits and jumped over the glass and came inside not once but two times. The last  time marking it's spot by urinating on my chair cushion where my cat usually sits looking from her seat. We couldn't believe it but it happened. Had to put the cushions in the washer. I've had two cats and this has never happened. How dare it. Although I learned if there is no barrier in the door they will walk up onto the porch. I try to be careful because I don't want my cat catching fleas or getting any diseases from them because she's an indoor cat.

Wood arrived yesterday and it looks pretty and fresh this year. Will need to continue curing before I burn some. Looking forward to the first fire of the season although we've had plenty of 40 degree nights and cool days to burn what's left from last years delivery. It may be a while as we seem to be experiencing Indian Summer.

Sedum Autumn Joy in her pink.

Hydrangea purchase weeks ago from Bloom Box. Haven't decide if I'll let it stay in the pot since I repotted it, or plant in a small space in the front flower bed. Another shrub and some periwinkle which has taken over need to be removed first. I hate periwinkle and didn't plant it. Believe this is one of the lime light hydrangeas.

Helenium also waiting to be planted outdoors or may overwinter on the porch and plant outside in spring where I have a spot.

Chicago fig and lilac still hanging in there and should do well till spring.

Shasta Daisy Becky still in the pot. Daisies take over my flower bed but I was a sucker again.

 

Almost Autumn

 

Rudbeckia Cherokee Sunset. The color is beautiful.

Rudbeckia Denver Daisy

Ornamental cabbage is supposed to be mixed with white. Supposedly Ornamental Cabbage Colorup White. We shall see if any color develops.

It's spot outside.

Not my normal color choice for Autumn pansies but I like them.

Don't know if the sunflower heads were ripe before I pulled them. They looked so bad. These seeds are white. I'm open one soon to see if seeds developed inside. This sunflower was a different type so they might not be black oil sunflower seeds.

Pulled the coleus yesterday, cut and put in water in anticipation of our second 40 degree night. My sister took them and the begonias pulled home last night for house plants. They may make it for replanting next spring.

Took the Chinese evergreen and begonia indoors yesterday. The Chinese evergreen didn't look good after it's second night of cold. Pothos, bird of paradise, and 2 maidenhair ferns will be taken in soon. It's early for this type of weather but beautiful.

Some pumpkins for the mantel. I have some firewood from last fall. Maybe I'll start a fire today. That would feel good because the house is cold.

I had a birthday since our last visit. Yes I was a fall baby and I love this season.

Rooting this piece of scindapsus. Looked like it was trying to die and maybe I can save it.

New arrival. Lipstick Begonia. From what the tag say's she may be needy. It came to the wrong house. I'll read up on how to care for it. Placed it in a terrarium for humidity.

My favorite is the cat card from my daughter.

That's me. Moving card with exercising leg. And I ice cream one of my favorites.

A cat's life. Must be nice.

Late Summer

The weather is beautiful today. Almost like a fall day. Spent time after work yesterday with my sister at the produce market looking at pumpkins and gourds. Corn stalks were freshly picked and green which I prefer. But it seems too early to start fall decorating. Maybe by the last week in September. This didn't stop me from buying my first fall pumpkin. I chose a smaller one and my sister the larger version. 

In the flowerbed sunflowers are look raggedy and no longer pretty and their large heads have started to droop. Before dark yesterday I cut them down and saved the heads which still have seeds, for the yellow finches. Can't imagine what they thought when they came to eat today. Hopefully they see the heads where I placed them. I'm anxious to pull annuals from the flower bed out front, cut  perennials, and make the bed a little neater. The pollinators especially all types of bees, loved the annual purple salvia this summer. It grew taller than it's ever done for some reason. May buy it again next spring.

Kitty and I enjoying the weather on the sun porch.

My pumpkin. The sign said it's a pink pumpkin.

Something caught her attention, was it the pumpkin I just placed there or another cat, squirrel, or bird outside?

The corner by the window has gotten junkie again. Always ends up being a good place for the shovel, rake, broom, charcoals, and what ever.

My fig in the center has done well. In the spring I'll up size the pot. With it on the shelf are a oak leaf hydrangea and the second lilac I've bought since spring. Also a daisy to go in the flower bed out front when I pull the annuals.

Sedum Autum Joy is always ready for Autumn.

Lilac, fig, and hydrangea again. The lilac I purchased in spring was wonderful and it's aroma filled the porch. Loved it and thought it was dying this summer. Although I watered it frequently as it begged for almost every day. One day all the leaves wilted, didn't respond to watering, and dried up. I thought, it's dead. But no, it started getting taller with new growth. I guess this is in preparation for spring. It was purchased with the intention of keeping it a container shrub on the porch and actually has done well. Can't wait for those spring blooms. Forgot, it has to survive the winter on the porch. Should do okay, it hardy to my area. This will also be the Chicago fig's first winter on the porch.

Northern fern, Chinese evergreen, and  begonia will soon begin the transition to indoors. After they're checked and spray for critters.

Potting mix and seed starting mix already purchased for fall container bulbs. They should start arriving soon and probably most won't be planted until after Thanksgiving up until before the ground freezes. Thought my hyacinths should be arriving now. I purchased some for forcing this year. Didn't force any last season but put them in container for the porch and they bloomed in spring.