Leaves

A student of mine gave me these leaves yesterday. She put them on my desk. I thought it was a sweet gesture.

Morning Glories

I haven't planted morning glories for a year or two. Deb gave me a packet of seeds some years back and that lasted me for quite a while but, alas, I ran out. Maybe next year. I found these growing on a neighbor's front fence.

12 Hours, 00 Minutes Daylight

Wow, we're half and half! Snapped this shot last night. It's from a neighbor's blooming boulevard. Not sure what kind of flower this is but it sure is pretty. I've seen lot's of them around lately.

Evening Walk Through the Neighborhood

Took a walk and found it to be raining lightly. The setting sun was hitting the tops of the trees and it all looked just lovely. I noticed the rainbow in the above pictures and had to snap some pictures. The the rainbow is seen looking east and the setting sun is, of course, in the west. Very magical.

More Autumn Leaves

Here's another autumn leaf I ran across on one of my walks through the neighborhood. Maples always seem to turn the earliest.

Sedums

I love the color the sedum flowers turn in the fall.

More Mums

The Pumpkin Patch

Drove by Julie's pumpkin patch in the alley and the previously pictured pumpkin has been harvested. Here's another one that's a little closer to the gate.

First Day of Fall

First day of Fall. Happy Birthday Dale!

Ornamental Cabbage

The Falling Leaves

Most of the leaves are still quite green but I'm finding some that are bound and determined to change color and fall.

Russian Sage

The little lavender flowers on the Russian sage are looking quite pretty. The bees love this stuff!

Another Pumpkin Patch Shot

Another picture from Julie's alley pumpkin patch. Rain this morning.

Daylight

We've just dipped under 12 and a half hours of daylight. We're at 12 hours and 28 minutes to be exact.

Turning Orange

This is the same pumpkin from my Sept. 1st post from Julie's pumpkin patch. As you can see it's orange now rather than green.

Mums

Found these at Bachman's this past weekend.

Declining Daylight

Daylight is declining. We're under 13 hours.

Ten years ago today I woke up to the beginning of a beautiful late summer day - much like this morning. On this same morning in 2001, the world changed in a matter of hours and my mind was quickly taken away from the beautiful shining sun and pleasant temperatures as I began to deal with the tragedy of the September 11th attacks. Today, while taking some time to tend to our yard, I thought of the nearly 3,000 people who would still most likely be with us today had it not been for the events of that fateful day. While reflecting on the senselessness of their deaths I realized how thankful I am for the number of times I've continued to see the sun come up as well as the experience of the changing seasons over the past ten years. I'm also thankful for the appreciation my dad, who died nearly 5 years ago, gave me for the outdoors and for the many growing things that are to be found there. I believe there really is beauty to be found in the world despite the loss we experience. Dad taught me through his tending of the land on his own small city lot that this beauty can be found as near as our own backyards and, more importantly, that we can have a part in creating it. It's good to be on the planet and to experience the outdoors!

Petunias

Photo taken August 23, 2011.

Decorative Grasses

Have used this quite a bit in the yard this year. It looks beautiful in the breeze.

Busy Bees

Chives?

I think this is a chive plant. Dad gave them to me quite a few years ago. I've noticed that they flower twice a season - once at the beginning and once at the end.

More Back Stoop

I love how the impatiens in the blue pot have filled out. Obviously, they're quite tall at this point in the season. They won't be around much longer as I've found that impatiens tend to be pretty cold sensitive. They sure look good now, though! The two pots on the right are planted with rosemary. That would be my reflection in the door.

Another Pumpkin

Here's the other pumpkin I spoke of in yesterday's post. It's from our neighbor Julie's pumpkin patch which grows right up to the alley. The little orange spot is where I think a squirrel started to nibble.

Mums

I know fall is really getting closer when I see mums. I picked these up today at Kowalski's. I like how this pot has three different colors.