Saturday, September 29, 2012

A Touch of Autumn/Time to Compost

The gardens are beginning their fall metamorphosis. Flowers have come and gone; others continue to provide bright spots of color. The trees are beginning to turn and some are already losing their leaves. Thanks for coming to visit Sunsplash Gardens - enjoy!






















Fall garden tasks continue. I had ample supplies of my homemade compost to topdress the cottage garden, the rocky garden, the triangle garden, daylily junction, the side garden, the south hosta garden, and the rose garden. The hosta farm was composted last year, and it will be a priority for composting in 2013. Ideally, I'd compost everywhere, every year, but the law of supply and demand is in effect - so every two years seems to be realistic for me.

You may wonder why I compost in the fall rather than the spring. The main reason is because we will soon be raking up pine needles to apply as mulch, and I want the compost topdressing next to the ground, not on top of my fresh mulch.

To read more about composting, click here.

To read more about using pine needles (pine straw) as mulch, click here.



Thursday, September 27, 2012

Adding Color to the Autumn Garden

Welcome to Beyond The Garden Gate. I primarily blog about my garden, although I also like to join several lovely ladies for tea time, and I do publish the occasional recipe or travel feature as well. Today it's the garden; to be precise, the autumn garden.

 When I planted 'Blue Paradise' phlox last week, I thought that would be my final plant purchase of the season. However, I changed my mind.


 I've been re-designing this area...it needs help, doesn't it?


 I added ornamental cabbage, pansies, mums,


 and a couple of pumpkins. It looks much better now - so colorful, and not so much empty space.






 
 

 
 
 A solution that left me with brilliant color for fall, at least in one area of my garden.


Next, a peek at the rest of the garden:

 Cleome


 Asters


 Mandevilla





 Clematis 'Rebecca'


Blue Forget-me-nots





 Pineapple Sage





Hydrangea 'Pinky Winky'


In the garden, color makes a powerful statement.

I want to say also that Bernideen's fall garden was my inspiration for the change in my border garden.

"Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity." ~Lindley Karstens


Linking to Fertilizer Friday, Home and Garden Thursday, and Open House

Monday, September 24, 2012

Autumn Tea

Welcome to Beyond The Garden Gate, where I blog about my garden, my table, and my life. Today it's time for tea!

I have begun decorating for fall, both inside and out.


 I love my red door! It does coordinate well with an autumn colors wreath.


 On my breakfast nook table:  a tiny scarecrow surrounded by faux flowers and leaves


 Just for fun: Wooden acorns and a little pumpkin made by my daughter when she was 11 years old - the same age my grandson is now


 Here's my teacup. I found this at a thrift shop. There are no marks on the cup or saucer.


 Roses and gold filigree on the saucer


 Does this plate match? Well, not exactly, but close....


 I purchased this plate on our "almost annual" trip to Hermann, Missouri, also known as the home of Oktoberfest and Missouri wine country.


Speaking of Hermann, here's a photo of Ron and I and our friends in Hermann last fall.



 I'm serving Rooibos Chai Tea today - chai is a little heavier, a little spicier, and thus great for fall.







Are the trees in your area turning color yet? For the most part, not yet here in central Iowa. With the drought we've had, one must wonder if we'll have a spectacular fall show this year. However, I do have a little autumn beauty to share from photos I took last fall.














May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you...and all your heart might desire. ~Irish Blessing

Linking to A Return to Loveliness, Tea Time Tuesday, Tuesday Cuppa Tea, and Tea in the garden

Saturday, September 22, 2012

More Colorado


A flower cart in front of a downtown shop


 Our next-to-the last full day in Colorado was spent hiking in Wild Basin in southeastern Rocky Mountain National Park. These are views from the trail.











 This is called Calypso Cascades.


 The beauty of moss





 On the way back we stopped at this picturesque stone church.





I love Colorado!

My previous Colorado posts are about the elk in Estes Park and The Woodlands on Fall River, several of the 150 lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park, and the bear who raided the chocolate factory and if you've missed them, access them with the links included in this sentence.


LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails