Nature Redecorates for Fall

It was a cold, windy day yesterday. I decided to bundle up and take a break from household chores and take a brief walk outside. Having just finished redecorating my living room and choosing a color palette, I was conscious of the colors that greeted me. Can you imagine any more beautiful color combinations that those provided by nature?

Dusty greens, bronze and beige, accented by a touch of silver.

How wonderful it is to experience these lovely colors this year.

The Sedum Autumn Joy is always a stunning sight.

As well as the dusty green of Powis Castle Sage, Blue Avena grass, and the fuzzy remains of Rose Campion.
Frosty Morn Sedum adds texture and color.

And the Russian Sage creates a beautiful textural background.

Plumbago, Rose Campion and Heuchera

Wandering around the corner, this color combination struck me as very unique.

Lastly, here is a pile of brush and leaves to help St. Francis give protection for the little birds during the winter.

When I got back inside I noticed that these are many of the same colors I used to redecorate my living room! No wonder! I'm wondering how many of us gardeners are inspired by nature's beautiful palette? Probably a lot of us.

Where Did November Go?

A light snow fell right before Thanksgiving but soon melted, just what I love about Colorado. This year there is some nice "winter interest" on the strips due to the lack of heavy snows that knock everything down.

The roses are now put to bed. I cut off any extremely long branches that will break during winter winds and then wrap the bushes in twine, again for the same reason. I rake up all the debris, mulch and top soil around them, then I added some winterizer from High Country Gardens. After that my husband helped me put down new compost and garden soil, piled up against the bushes, and then mulch was added. Now I can go into winter knowing my roses are nice and warm, and given a boost to start them next spring. I don't mind doting on my roses since I only have a few bushes.

OMG, I can't believe looking at the calendar today! November has blown by. We had a small Thanksgiving snow storm after setting highs the days before (76 degrees)! I'm just thankful that so far (knock on wood) it has not been as snowy as last year. Because of this there is actually some "winter interest" on the strips and I enjoy looking at them every day. The only gardening chore I have not done yet is to clean up my tools. Gotta do that soon!

So, where has November gone? Well, I have spent most days redecorating and painting, and trying to catch up on household chores that went lacking during a busy gardening season. Wow, I didn't realize how far behind I was! I still have lots I want to accomplish by Christmas, but the progress I am most pleased with is getting all of the gardening books out of the living room and into my office. True, they are not organized here yet, but that is my next project. It will be good to have all of my information at hand while I'm at the computer and at my desk. Should make things much more convenient and efficient. And the next project will be to start a central catalogue on my computer of all my plants (from the very beginning). I'm looking forward to winter days to accomplish this.

This week I plan to catch up on all my favorite blogs and see what everyone has been up to. It feels good to have accomplished a few projects.

Frosty Morn

A couple days ago I got up early to get started on a busy day, but Iafter looking out a window I just couldn't resist grabbing my camera and running out to capture nature's beauty on this frosty morn.

I love to find nature just the way it is, no rearranging allowed. Doesn't she do a beautiful job? Here with Lamb's Ears.

I couldn't believe this attractive array of colors arranged by the wind. A fleeting display, for sure.

Partridge Feather sage



Corsican violas. They will peak their pretty little heads out from the snow most of the winter months. Unless we have several feet, that is. Let's not even think about that yet!

This Dusty Miller sage comes back every year. It is supposed to be an annual here.

Pasque Flower foliage

Oregon Grape Holly offers a lovely blue hue next to other plants

This Autumn Joy photo should be rotated, but I loved this composition more

Culinary sage

Sedums

Wild and interesting textures of Bachelor's Buttons

This Is More Like It!

The Perovskia - Russian Sage - have begun to adorn themselves in stylish Winter White...

... making a lovely backdrop for the Sedum Autumn Joy, Ava Agastache, Desert Sunrise Agastache, Salvia Rose Queen and the remains of Lamb's Ear. I love to look out my bedroom window in the early morning and see the sun backlighting the filmy white branches.

The Hardy Pampas Grass rises above the Pyrocantha, which is loaded with berries this year.

One of the interesting things about gardening in Colorado is that each year brings something different to every season. Depending on weather, moisture, etc. some fall seasons have more color than others. This year the snow we had last week was too much moisture for the Sedum Autumn Joy and a lot of foliage broke or fell over. This will be the second year in a row that I most likely will not able to enjoy their beautiful winter texture. And, they are one of my favorite! And a lot of trees that had not yet begun to change color will now just be a dull brown instead.

This was the Honey Locust last fall. (Not so this year.) It was stunning, at least until the heavy snows came and stayed all winter. As a matter of fact, it was one year ago today (October 26) that the area experienced a blizzard which left anywhere between 1-2 feet of snow. We got a foot where we live. So.... I consider myself very fortunate this year. Monday had a high of 49 and a low of 21 (VERY COLD!) but the rest of the week was in the 70's and absolutely beautiful. I was able to do some more fall cleanup. Probably not so this weekend though. I've learned to take every opportunity I can to work outside.

This is More Like It

What a Differance a Day Makes

Yesterday was 79, a beautiful (but windy) day. I appreciated every moment because I knew what would be coming during the night. I'm glad the "Termination Project List" is nearing the end and this moisture is wonderful, even though the high today will be 38. That's Colorado for you!

Now just a recent memory

A brave rose still hanging in there

And the zennias are nice and warm with their little winter caps

Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

The new sedum garden today...

and yesterday.

Petunias putting on their last show yesterday...

... but not today! Japanese Anemone tried to withstand the wind.

So it's a good day to get out the winter clothes, put on a pot of soup, and let the gardens enjoy some much-needed moisture. The next few days it will be back in the high 70's again. Knowing that it makes the cold bitter wind easier to endure. Especially since it's Sunday and I don't have to be out in it. Here's to the first snow of the season!

Termination Dust

According to legend, the Native Americans called this first sprinkling of snow "Termination Dust." Time to terminate projects and chores before the winter comes. I love this concept. So, every year this time I make a list of termination chores.

This year I made a mix to top-dress the gardens: EKO Organic or Cotton Boll Compost, Earthgrow Garden Soil (for the sand in it), horticultural corn meal, Yum Yum Winterizer (from High Country Gardens), and a few alfalfa pellets (I get these from the farm store for $7.50 for 50 lb.). The corn meal is a new addition this year to hopefully help combat root rot from compacted snow.

Prospect Lake

The garden art is mostly put away. Beds are composted and new plants mulched. More mulch will be applied later. Containers are being emptied. Garden bench and potting area in the process of being cleaned up and reorganized. Perennials will soon be cut back when more frost occurs. Outdoor furniture, fountains need to be cleaned. Hook up electric warmer for bird bath. Get suet feeders ready. Prepare some containers for indoor use. Clean veggie beds. Cover air conditioner and put away summer fans. Take liquid garden supplies inside. Drain sprinkler system and disconnect hoses. And lastly, clean tools.

These photos were taken at a memorial site honoring the various military services. There are many beautiful and thoughtful monuments. It was a beautiful morning to get out and see how the trees are coming along. Not much color yet.

These striking monuments remind us to take a quite moment from our busy day to appreciate and remember the many servicemen who have given (and continue to give) their lives for freedom.