Bonus-Summer

I don't know about you but here in the Pacific Northwest we're having a bonus-summer this fall. As I write, it's clear and sunny and wonderful all day, but what I like best is when evening comes. Granted, they come too early, but, wow. Last night as the sun set in a clear sky, the moon took over, shining down as if to say all is right with the world. It was mesmerizing. 

With hospitable weather, I'm in the garden whenever time allows. There are so many things to do.

Here is a single blossom of 'Floral Carpet' with a not-so-friendly interloper--the dreaded squash beetle. 

I'm really excited about the black foliage on this 'Mystic Wonder' Dahlia. 

Here is a close up of the flowers, complete with squash beetle damage. 

Here is Dahlia 'Fatima'... oh so pink! 

And Dahlia 'Ivanhoe' ooh la, la!

Forgive my droning on about Coreopsis 'Mercury Rising'
but it's been blooming non-stop since June. 

Honeybees have the cutest butts. 

Here is a random photo of a portion of the garden, featuring Stipa gigantea. 

This is Euphorbia amygdaloides var robbiae. It makes a fabulous twelve-inch tall groundcover for shade. 

Here it's filling in nicely.

Cyclamen hederifolium began blooming in late August. I love these little peepers.

In my book, Grace in the Garden, I write about how I came upon these lovelies.
They always make me think of Judy. 

If I get close enough, I can catch its sweet fragrance.

I love how they're naturalizing all over the garden. 

This photo doesn't do justice to the neon-red "flowers"
of this towering Castor plant.

And look at these leaves! 

After seeing these abloom in friends' gardens,
they went on my must-have list. $6.99 for three bulbs, not bad. 

My plan is to have one pop up on each side of this pathway.
I'm not sure where the third one will go. 

I can't believe how fast I received these seeds from Plants of the Southwest.
I think it was three days. My plan is to sow them outside in flats this fall, allowing Nature to
run its course. Hopefully I'll have lots of baby plants next spring.
If you have experience with growing any or all of these, or experience with fall-sowing
please share! 

And lastly, Zip the cat sleeping on what remains of a once-perfect wicker chair.