New-ish Fall colors

In the early fall, when color in the garden is waning-- one solution: buy some.

At the end of summer, I realized I just really missed visiting nursuries, and acquiring little bits o' beauty. Here are some fairly recent arrivals to our yard.



1. Caryopteris incana
“Bluebeard” via Annie's Annuals

2. a low-growing teucrium (I've had great luck with the bush forms)

3. Lantana, though I don't think these survive the winter here...

4. Verbascum!

Halloween Fun...

Found via D.Sharp Journal, a new fav...

http://dsharp.typepad.com/

And here's one of the more amusing Jack-o-Lantern pics I've seen this year: (via SFGATES Day-in-pictures, photo-grapher Tom Stromme) hmmm.. same theme.

of pumpkins & persimmons

Some years ago (let's say 4) I put in a little seeding of these (Cinderella?) pumpkins. It yeilded a harvest of fourteen, big beautiful fruits. (We had more space then). I was hooked. As sculptural objects,I love the various quirky-colored and shaped gourds, more than the plain, bright orange. This first picture is from that first harvest. I've never grown a pumpkin since, though I've planted them. Too late in the season, I'm thinking. Not enough water.


So, here are a few from neighborhood gardens.


And persimmons ripening on a neighbor's tree.

ornamental gourds & blossoms

Every year we have a few of these plants come up as volunteers somewhere in the yard, and often get a large harvest of gourds to decorate with.
This year they seem to be running rather late!

Fall comes to the Vineyards

Click to enlarge photos & see so much more beautiful color. All photos taken a short distance from our house.
The second scene is where I encountered a group of landscape painters , a year ago, I guess. And I wasn't the only one who hopped out to take a photo on this day, either.

Bloom Day Part Two: Across the Street

Bloom Day just wouldn't be complete without a glimpse into the yard of our most floriferous neighbors, now would it?
(pictures also taken on the weekend).

Note to self:
for next year, need asters & anemones.

October's Bloom Day

A cursory glance reveals a very yellow season, bloom-wise.
disclaimer: it's raining today-- these were shot yesterday!
The unusual blooms in the bottom photos are 'overflow paintings' from Open Studios, decorating our trellis. I was surprised by how many people asked if they are always there. (with infamous 'swamp sunflower' in foreground. That thing is a monster. 8 feet tall by 8 feet wide-- or so.) Click on any image to enlarge it.

raindrops on roses

Yes, apparently the rainy season is here. Real rain, not just some introductory, courtesy warning, remember,-rain-is-coming-soon rain. Real, soaking, drenching all night long rain. Noooo, I'm not complaining. Just not this weekend, please. Not this weekend.


Sure is pretty the next morning, though.

1 & 2: Medallion,
3: Hot Cocoa

Northern California Art & Garden Lovers:

The reason we're so busy around here-- we're getting ready for ArTrails, Sonoma County's Open Studios. Yes, Tony & I are both painters, and our studio is out back, right in the middle of the garden. So... if you're in the neighborhood, or need an excuse to head out for a lovely fall day in 'wine country'--(you DO know how many nurseries are in this neck of the woods, don't you?)-- consider coming by, and seeing what the garden REALLY looks like!
Open October 13 & 14, 20 & 21, 10-5 each day.

E-mail me for more info, or go here for online catalogs & maps of participating artists.
(Piece shown here is acrylic paint, with a little collage, on top of an antique French postcard album page. I've also made giclee prints from this piece, and one day... I'll get them up on an Etsy shop where people could actually buy them!)

a beautiful Fall morning...

1. Bulbinella-- but if you know this plant, you'll see that the top is-- unusual on this one. (usually they come to more of a 'point')

2. Brugmansia (Angel's Trumpet) in glory.

3. Our most frequent butterfly-like visitor these days.

4. 'About Face' rose.

5. Helianthus augustifolious.

Fall reds & yellows

1 & 2. mums!
(you see I prefer the daisy-like form)
3. Graham Thomas, of course
4. gallardia, still going strong
5. 'swamp' sunflower--
almost here

(more) dazzling dahlias

When we came home from camping last week, these were on our front porch, from the garden of China & Steve, of course.
Apparently, these were 'late to the party' in terms of getting around to blooming, but what an entrance!

I don't know their proper name, but if it were up to me, it would be something with 'fireworks' or 'firecracker' in it.

Thanks, guys!