A final Look around the garden today......

Its time to rake the leaves and put things away. Time to put the glass balls and fairies safe inside for winter. Gather in anything else that may thrive inside, that's not likely. Plant the ivy so that can live and trim back things that need to be tidied up.
The birds are still busy, and the squirrels are busy making their stash for the cold days ahead and getting some meat on their bones to sustain them through the lean times. Don't worry little critters I will have food out for you.



I don't think the leaves will change any further before they fall off. I was surprised that the leaves are still on after all the wind we had. Then the rain. Still we have had some of the most beautiful weather this past weekend. There is little left to show in the garden. I found one beautiful rose still with rain drops on her.



There were a few more buds on other roses but they are withered from a cold night and I doubt that they will open. I will look tomorrow and bring them in if they open up. The last of the flowers for this year. I don't really like picking flowers for the house, I prefer them in the garden looking beautiful, but at this time of year they will die anyway............so let them live a little longer and give us pleasure.



Tristens little house will remain empty now until the Spring, next year he will be older and will enjoy it more than this year. A more active imagination by then and he will have grown some more. What will we be able to do out there next Spring? well.......that remains to be seen.
One last little pansy smiles from its corner of the garden and will come back again next year.



The deadly nightshade is full of berries and the birds like them and so I will leave them be.



So........to put the garden to bed, to sleep until the Spring. A long time from now........I do not look forwards to what is to come.

Bringing in the herbs.......................

When I bought herbs in the Spring, the garden center told me that a lot of them are annuals. So I planted those I knew were perennial (remind me next year to contain them before they take over) and the others I left in pots. Well, last year I brought inside a lot of nice plants so that I could try to save them. Ivy, geraniums and a couple of others including some nice Boston Ferns. I had no luck what ever. They died.
This year I have only brought in the house plants that I put out in the Spring. Those I know will live. They get a real boost from being outside and are ready to go out again in the Spring.
Well I brought in the herbs. Its not looking good at this point but I am nursing 3 or 4. The first one above and these two.



and one that is barely hanging on and there is nothing to show. I have a chive that is spindly and we shall see in a month or two how many are left.

Waiting for winter...................

The garden's a mess, all soggy and wet
Those sunny hot days we are soon to forget
The weather is changing the leaves almost gone
The flowers all hiding as though the sun never shone
Soon old man winter will blow in the snow
Cold fingers of ice when the north wind doth blow
Turn up the heat and gather inside
while the birds and the beasts find somewhere to hide.
JKS October 2011


Can I come in for the winter?

Meet the neighbours......

I went for a walk this morning and took the camera. I caught some of the neighbours in action. The little red squirrel was fighting with another neighbour who we could not see but could definitely hear.

The Mallard and all his wives was one of a whole family of ducks hanging out in someones garden. I suppose that is an asset (?) if you live next to the river.


This is Gabrielle and Tristen enjoying the walk by the river.


The grass by the river and its tables are all empty now, shutting down for winter. Our unusually sunny and warm Fall is a blessing. We hope to enjoy a few more walks and neighbours before the snow flys.



We caught these two chatting in someones back garden.

Gardening or art?...........

I really enjoy my garden. I love working out there, its like art really. Design and plan then try to make it come out as you envision. It doesn't but thats OK. Sometimes a flash of inspiration just by moving one thing and getting a whole new look. What I enjoy is the wildlife. I dont mind the baby bunnies eating my plants, they are too cute and a joy to see. Well worth replacing plants if I have to. I know Bud next door would not agree with me, he always seems to be the victim of small creatures.
Last year we had deer come and eat all the hosta in the front garden. Why? we live in town for goodness sake. No regrets there either, they are most welcome. The neighbours put up deer crossing signs haha. The hosta come back the following Spring.




The birds are just beautiful this year, and now the stray cat is a permanent inside resident, they are once again safe. She can watch them from inside the windows like our other cats did.
The cardinals have survived, even though Boots did get one of them or so I was told. I hate that, outside cats getting the birds and baby bunnies. The neighbours were trying to shoot her with bee bee guns......well not to worry now. The birds are safe once more and so is she.



Bud sets traps every Spring, live traps for the squirrels. He does not like them because they eat his tulips. Takes the heads right off they do. They have also moved quite a few of them over to my side, he says that he can see them better now. Lovely bright red ones they are. Anyway, he takes the squirrels out to the woodlands and lets them go. Silly really because all that happens is that the next family moves into the vacated premises. I don't care one way or other as I happen to like the little critters and I put out food for them.

Winding Down............

The squirrels and small creatures are stocking up. They are eating well this Fall, so many heavy laden fruit trees and nuts. It seems that there is a bad winter coming according to the amount of fruits and berries. We shall see, the berries on my Holly have never been as thick as they are this year. The apple trees are so full they are in danger of breaking the boughs.
Today the squirrels were very busy.




The berries on the Junipers are large and full. I have not really noticed them so big before.



All the apple trees are full great news for the deer. I just hope we dont get snow early so the animals can all get good and fat for the winter months. What lays ahead for us? I just hope that it holds off till January. At least it's October and sunny and warm I am thankful for every sunny day.



Lavender seeds............