In just two days, September will be here. It always marked the true end of summer to me, even though the days were often still hot, the light had already begun to shift and the days were getting ever so slightly shorter. As a kid, I hated it. As an adult, I often think about how I have missed most of summer and how did that happen??
When I was a kid, summer lasted forever, now it seems like it is two weeks long. How did I miss vacation time? And not having a pool to laze in and swim in, that is the thing I most miss about living in Florida. I would get up in the early morning, make coffee and slip out to the pool and swim laps - fast and slow, and sip my coffee while everyone slept.
This summer I saw the daylilies and then the rain and weeds came. I sprained my ankle, and walking on the uneven ground of my gardens to do weeding was out...so the weeds have won this year.
I do love the change in the greens at this time of the year. The bright spring greens are wonderful, but the complexity of the greens as they age and darken is something I enjoy watching. As I walk my dogs each morning, I have been seeing lots of purple flowers. Why so many purple flowers in fall?
Thistle
Joe Pye Weed and Ironweed
Flax on the roadside
Here's one of my hydrangeas that has been incredible this year. It is at the end of its season.
And I always love the Queen Anne's Lace (Not purple!!)
What kinds of flowers and foliage are you seeing where you are right now??
We'll be doing a drawing (random number generator) of one winner if you make a comment by the end of August!! The prize will be one skein of Yummy 2-ply Sock and we'll include a pattern of Martina Behm's Miss Winkle.
198 comments
I love this time of year and how the light starts to change, giving my garden a different look. My little visitors, the hummingbirds will be leaving shortly after labor day. I do miss them until they return in May.
I love this time of year and how the light starts to change, giving my garden a different look. My little visitors, the hummingbirds will be leaving shortly after labor day. I do miss them until they return in May.
The dogwoods are beginning to turn crimson and sunflowers in the garden!
I’m in Ontario Canada and potted mums are started to show up everywhere! I’ll get a couple for my front porch – purple and rust coloured ones are my favourite!
Love purple and green together!
I still have roses blooming. Plus I have a butterfly bush still in bloom. The sedum and sweet autumn clematis (a fave) are starting to bloom. The clematis smells wonderful in full bloom.
The last of my lavender plants have beautiful, deep purple blooms now. Meanwhile, the chrysanthemums are beginning their sneak attack in the garden.
I’m in Annapolis and the Crepe Myrtles are blooming…so are roses (might just be leftovers from height of summer) also a grassy type smallish shrub that is light green and white, now it has purple flowers! My favorites: purple and green together. This late summer color is nice but I’m ready for Fall! I’m new to the northeast and am loving having seasons! We’re even keeping our fingers crossed for lots of snow…hey, it’s still a novelty to us and we love it.
Lots of late roses here in my neighborhood, but my yard is covered up with bits of pinecone the squirrels have left, going after the seeds inside. I have to sweep the driveway once or twice a day to keep up!
For whatever reason, thistle has been springing up amongst the raspberry plants this yeat in my backyard. It seems to love it there and so do the birds. I am amazed at the height they reach, over 6 feet. The purple colours are glorious but the thorns are wicked.
I love the end of summer…the nasty biting bugs have gone :-)