Happy Fall

Here comes fall. I might as well embrace it.
Our sumac tree is doing its usual fall color explosion.
I love this tree and I would love it even more if it didn't sucker up everywhere in the yard.

But I think it's worth it for this kind of brilliancy.

Even the peony foliage is showing color this time of year.

Our dogwood comes up with some great red color for fall.

It just happens to be located where I can keep track of its progress from the kitchen window.
A bit anyway.

Our fall crocus are blooming. Kylie at Our Little Acre has a great post about harvesting the saffron which I should try.

Our monkshood or aconitum, a gift from Lynda at My Boise Life is doing well.

Kim had this harvest from his single pumpkin vine this year.

And I got this idea from reading the Hen Cam blog.

Peanut really dug into that pumpkin. Might be a great way to rid your pumpkins of all that inner slime/seeds.

Fall Flora and Fauna

It takes some diligence but there still are some perks to taking a stroll in our garden.

Some larkspurs are reblooming.

Asters are still at it.  They make great cut flowers.

Those calendula just never give up.

Castor bean seed pods provide brilliant color.

I also think their dried pods are interesting.

Some dianthus still trying.

I tried many times to get a decent picture of Solidago rugosa - 'Fireworks' goldenrod.
Maybe you can see why it received that name.

An unknown red mum.
Still pretty.






A sedum. (Don't ask me the variety.)

Clematis seed pods.  I love the way they shine in the sun.

Another anonymous mum.

Annual snapdragons hanging in there.






Another clematis seed head.  Looks as if it belongs in the ocean.

Nice daisy mum.

And of course, the garden spiders are out.
(Outside, where they belong.)

This website has some interesting facts about orb spiders including the fact that they "...are not dangerous".........and are...."beneficial to our environment."
Also, "Predicated upon climate, these spiders may live a little over a year from their hatching in the fall until the first hard frost the following year. In warmer temperatures, the female may live for several years but males usually die after mating in their first year."

So give them a break, they won't be around long.

I'll follow the scary spider picture up with something I hope is sweeter.

This is what goes on in our dog's bed.
There's four of them in there and they love it.
(Still looking for homes.)

Fun Times

Kim and I were fortunate to be invited to fellow blogger friend Emily's house for a get together.  We got to meet both her dogs;  loveable.

Here's Andy.  You can see pictures of cute little Potato on her blog.

Emily also has three chickens and a great coop.

We were treated to a tomato tasting.  I should have counted all the varieties, there must have been over a dozen.  Emily had grown them all this summer.  Impressive.  And delicious.

Emily has a great house. She also has some strange looking plants;

It was a great time. Thanks Emily!

Kim and I took advantage of the nice weather this past week by walking to Bown Crossing for breakfast.

We also enjoyed their Sunday market.

The weather has been great up until the past few days when the temperature has decided to agree with the calendar, that it is indeed fall.  Soon it will be pumpkin and frost time.  Enjoy.

Oh fall...

Random pictures from some of our walks lately.

Great blue heron on the Boise river.

Some rarely seen chukars.

I can't tell to which species of swan this one belongs.  But it expected a treat we didn't have.

This tree is a perfect example of our weather lately;  between summer and fall.

And yes, we're still overrun with kittens. They're getting bigger. And tamer.

A rare picture of Frankie (in front - who we're keeping), together with his cousin Francine (who we're not planning on keeping.)

And no, to answer your unspoken question, it's not smart to name the ones we're not planning on keeping but we've done so just to know which one it is we're discussing.  So, she's "Francine" until she gets a more permanent home.

And yes, their ears have all been notched.

That's what happens when you take in cats/kittens to the local humane society for spay/neuter.  They insist on the ear notch in case these cats end up living as ferals.  Which they won't.  That's part of why we rescued them.  Doesn't "Francine" look worried?  She is.  She's the shyest of the kittens.


Two of the kittens were outside with Felix playing with...

...this little guy.

First time we've seen a snake of any size in our garden.  (This one was very small.)

Kim rescued and relocated our visitor.

Well, well. Summer is winding down, making way for fall.
We could use some rain. I should be spending more time out in the garden right now. But I'm so tired of looking at the smoke from the forest fires that has gathered in our valley. I need some blue sky!

OK, enough whining.

Not much going on in our garden. You really have to get up close to see much. But there are some blooms happening.

We have a few anemones showing their faces. Ones the chickens haven't dug up. Yet.

( I planted pink ones at my daughter's house and they're looking great. Of course she doesn't have chickens.)

And this is prime time for asters.  See some nice ones at Kasey's Korner.

The morning glories are in their stride.

A nice coleus in a container on the back porch.

We planted 50 gladiolus bulbs. About two bloomed. Probably not enough sun.  Which sounds crazy for southern Idaho, trust me.  But that's one of the consequences of planting so many trees.
Good part is the place we bought them from give a dozen free blooms when you bring your coupon back. This is one of the two that bloomed for us; lovely.

'David' phlox and Alma Potschke working it. Check out Grace's Alma Potschke.  Very nice.

'Heritage' rose usually hangs in there until the snow flies. I like that.
(I thought Garden Girl's Double Impatiens were roses.)

And the Russian sage is hanging in there. What a carefree plant.
Janet has a nice pic of it also.

Hope your summer is winding down nicely.  And taking its time.  The snow and cold will be here soon enough.