Fall.

I don't know exactly what it is. This year it has thrilled me. I love the "blooms".

I hadn't planned...

To take cuttings this year. Several friends need Brugmansia and Confederate Rose. 32°F is the forecast for Saturday night.

Sixteen.

Brugmansia. It's 68° and cooling down fast. I'm going to accidentally take cuttings soon.

Firepit

I used stone from the yard. I moved the large ones with a wheelbarrow and some leverage.  I'll spend the next few days laying the pavers where the chairs are sitting. I want to raise this bed another couple inches and that means moving soil. We'll see what I actually do when the time comes.

What a gorgeous day.

I took a nice long walk with Koda.

Chilly.

It would be a good day to work in the yard. I have other plans.

It was an accident.

In early March, I got a call from my sister in SC asking me what those yellow blooming shrubs all over town might be. She wants some for her yard. She's a solid zone 8a. I told her Forsythia and proceeded to quote a price for a three gallon shrub from Lowe's.  She was dissuaded. 

Her birthday is Friday. I've rooted nine pots with two cuttings a piece. After work, I'll drive down and deliver the to her. It's what brothers do.

I accidentally grew a few too many Hosta this year from seed. I've planted two seedlings in each of the cells of two recycled 18 pack containers. Next spring, the survivors will find a home on the shady end of the slope in front of my house. Some are large leaf varieties.  Others were collected from various plants at the store last fall. I won't know for a while what I got. Patience strikes again.

Rainy day

It's 61°. Rain has been falling all morning. Seemed like the right thing to do today.

Patience

It's something I struggle with everyday.  Gardening teaches patience. Life rewards those who wait. Sometimes.

Seed grown lantana only took the whole season to finally bloom. I hope it returns next year.

Helianthus

It's becoming more apparent everyday that fall is here. The temperatures are in the 50s most nights with days in the 60s. The perennial sunflowers are blooming. The sedums have taken on their dark red hues. Pineapple salvia is blooming. The last of the hummingbirds zoom past as I wait for Koda to do his business. 

It won't be long now before the backyard is full of orange, red, and yellow foliage. Winter isn't that far away. Time to pull out the heavy comforter and put away the summer blanket for the bed. The tropicals are slowly making their way indoors.  I've got a meeting tonight with another client. Pansies are on her mind.

Pisgah Inn

Off the side of the parkway somewhere near Asheville, my friend Tom took me to the restaurant of this seasonal hotel. The rooms all overlook this view. The restaurant where we ate did too. The solidago is stunning. In person, small dots of light purple from the natvie asters are scattered about. The leaves will not be at their peak for about another two weeks, but the Flora is fantastic.

It was 46 degrees here when I finally got out of bed. The wind chill has put a damper on the Blue Ridge Pride festivities in downtown Asheville.  Looking forward to a most interesting afternoon.