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 live in Oregon at the edge of a forest, so there aren’t a lot of flowers here. There are blackberries bursting on the bushes, elderberries in huge clumps on the trees. And the leaves on the maple trees are just starting to turn yellow…the first sign that fall is coming!
Here in southern New England we are seeing the very early changes of the tree leaves. In another months or so the brilliant reds, oranges, yellows will be everywhere complimenting all the pumpkins and sunflowers that are starting to grace the fields, farmers markets, and road side stands now. Beautiful!
Love your blog! Seems the older I get ( and I’m pretty old!)‘the faster summers fly by! And years, too, if I’m being honest!
I only live a few miles down the road from you, so I’m seeing about the same flowers. But I’ve also noticed that the sumac leaves have started to turn! Much of our summer garden is winding down…. cornstalks are drying for autumn decorating, winter squash is being picked and brought in. And the fall planting/growing is well underway! Lettuce,spinach, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and beets are sprouting up around the aging pepper and eggplant plants that are just finishing up. Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan), Chrysanthemums, and asters are starting to bloom in place of the poppies, cosmos and daisies of summer. And the sounds are different— more crickets, fewer grasshoppers and frogs; birds singing their “flocking up” songs instead of their “protect the nest territory” songs. I love the transitions between seasons!
The crepe myrtle trees are in bloom here. Lovely!
I’m seeing some of my roses blooming, as well as the butterfly bushes and sedum. Can’t wait for the sweet autumn clematis to bloom. It smells wonderful.
About the only thing in bloom in my yard is the desert willow — lovely purple and white miniature orchids. As the desert air cools — no more 100-degrees! — we will have an assortment of wildflowers and autumn sage to carry us through November.
I live in north Texas and it is so hot I think all I’ve seen lately is brown grass. I did see some bushes with small purple flowers yesterday but I have no idea what they were.
I love my Crepe Myrtle just wish they would bloom longer. Such a graceful tree!
Wild flowers growing in our pastures along with some weeds. I love fall. Can’t wait for the leaves to change and cool weather. It’s hot in Bama. Thanks for the give away.