Rain................

We got just a little rain yesterday, not enough to help really. The leaves are falling without changing colour. The oaks coming down in chunks. I bet that's the squirrels. I need to gather the acorns if we have any this year. The Mountain ash is heavy with berries and the Robins are feasting.



It must be time to fill the feeders because I had two visitors looking for food. I kept them empty to keep the Squirrels away but maybe it's time. I will have to go shopping.


I don't want to discourage the birds but at the moment the cats are enjoying the outside especially since I found some new cushions. I stopped at a yard sale the other day quite by chance. I found 12 seat cushions at a dollar each. So I have replaced all mine. What a deal. Now they all match except the Shade garden ones but now they too have a set of the old ones that at least match. Woo hoo, what a deal.


I finally got Gerry to paint the old wooden bench and a stool for me. So with the new cushions it looks quite nice, the cats seem to think so. So I moved things around a bit and put the bench up by the back door. If it ever cools down I can sit out there again.
The two chairs are back together again and its better than the bench being there.

The patios new cushions and the Shade gardens too


It will almost be time to start to bring in plants to Winter over. I am not sure what I want to bring in this year but most certainly will bring in the Geraniums.



I usually bring in the ferns but it takes them all summer to recover and are not that expensive. They are very messy house plants. Its just such a shame to lose them all though. BUT it's not worth it. I must bring in my usual two house plants that usually sit in the kitchen window but, they are bigger now so I may try them in the dining room instead. Several of my African Violets have died off.


The front porch is painted and still needs the rail. I bet Gerry will put that off as long as he can. He is working with Tim for awhile which will at least give him a bit of extra money,but no doubt that will go on bills. Still I can hope. I really want to be able to let the dogs out the front this winter.

Time to begin sewing for the change for the Autumn......if I can do it in time haha. Probably have to go straight to Winter haha. Well actually I am pretty sure I have enough Christmas fabric to do that by then at least. Meanwhile if I can get Gerry to clean up his mess in the garage maybe I can find my Autumn decorations. I can do that this weekend. Hardly any activity in the garden. Just a few braved the heat.



The weeds are doing well though. Today I swept the path out back and its all such a mess. I think I will go around with the wheel barrow tomorrow before it gets hot and pull some of the purple bell flowers that spread like crazy before they drop seeds and also the Tiger lily's. They are ungainly and I can do without those. There are also some wild flowers that ended up being really straggly, they need more light so they can go. Lots to do. Not a lot of satisfaction at this time of year but I have dirt to spread and several other clean up jobs. I think I will try a spray bottle with a mix of vinegar and salt again to get rid of weeds between stones. It worked before so maybe that will stop them coming back in Spring.

Nothing new.................

I walk around my garden and find it totally frustrating. There is no lawn, its all weeds. The lawnmower broke and cant afford a new one. We have a hand mower, you know the old type of push mower that does a hack job. At least it does when Gerry does it. (thats not me)

He seldom does the trim so when I get out I hand pull the edges. Right now the flowers/weeds that I grow that like to spread are having a grand old time frolicking all over the place.

They have no manners and spread to other gardens too. Funny thing is they would do wonderful in a wild garden, but then mine is fast becoming one.
The Geraniums that I overwintered have come into their own. The ones that did not look very well have perked up and now I have nice mix of colours. I will bring them in again.



The Boston fern that I had left that about died is also back and looking good. I've 4 this year. 3 new ones. I think what I'll do with those is cut them back when I bring them in. See how that works. I hate to see things die.
The "rose garden" did well this year and I'd planted some daisies there and even the lavender did OK. So I'm happy with that. All my roses bloomed to some extent and that's nice. I will try to prune them this year if I get a chance. I long for a nice long cool Autumn. At least get the leaves out of the way this year. Way too much work come Spring.




You can see the subtle change in things as it slides into a different season. The berries on the Mountain Ash are just turning red, seems it only just blossomed. Soon be time to fill bird feeders again. So much to do before then. The Ferns I pulled have replaced themselves but I will pull some more and plant in the back under the Pines. That's the plan but will it get done I wonder?
It has been a horrible summer for me. I feel more of cabin fever than I did in Winter. I can't tolerate the heat and humidity. The Day lillies are holding up their end of the deal, always a favourite. Hostas blooming and I have some to put in the garden too.







Always some new ones. Although the ones I got this year are long over with. Next year though they'll be awesome.


Nothing lasts long here. Soon the leaves will begin to hint at changing. September is usually a nice month and begins the change. Sometimes a dust of snow and the first frosts happen depending on the year. Maybe it'll be a long cool but not freezing Fall.
I gave up on the side garden for now. Gerry is working on the front porch. I will have to take out all my pretty stones and wash and replace them Maybe even cover them when the leaves start to fall. Trim the Forsythia and weed the new garden well so come Spring I can plant it. I can always hope.