Summer has pretty much come to an end. While the days might still be warm and sunny, the gardens around the house tell a different story—autumn is coming.
The back garden is definitely ragged, no two ways about it.
The bee balm is no longer in vibrant bloom, just a few red petals here and there.
Except for the border of annuals, the rest of the garden doesn’t look much better. But the impatiens are positively thriving—I have never seen them so big and full. Clearly, they liked the heat and humidity, even if I didn’t.
And the begonias, troopers that they are, continue to provide welcome color.
The front yard actually looks a little better, and it’s all because of the hostas that I divided and planted in the many holes in my garden. Hostas might not be showy, but they maintain a cool, even presence. Surely there must be a lesson in this.
One plant that is coming into bloom is the sedum—autumn joy. Here’s a close up with a little friend on the top.
Farewell, summer. You might have been too hot and humid, but I treasure those evenings on the patio, the nights with the windows open, the gatherings with grilled bread.
Notes From the Hinterland 
Oh I love that sedum autum joy Laurie, I have never seen these delicate flowers before. Wishing you all a finest weekend! 🙂💖 xxx
Thanks, Xenia! Autumn joy is a lovely treasure in the fall.
Your impatiens are gorgeous, Laurie. Very happy!
It is hard to say goodbye to summer, esp. the open windows and meals outside. But the forecast still has many 80+ days ahead, so we can continue as long as it lasts. 🙂
Yes, yes!
Your garden still looks pretty good to me, well done for having all that colour.
Yes, regardless of the calendar, the garden tells you when summer is coming to an end, and it has started. Things still look pretty in your neighborhood though so a few more weeks of enjoying that outdoor patio. 🙂
Your garden looks lovely, the impatiens & begonias will give you lots of colour to remind you of summer. Like you I always miss summer evenings…. for me the best part of summer.
Thanks, Gerrie! And you are so right about summer evenings being the best part of summer. I already miss them.
Lots of plants to chop down, cut back, or weed before the end of the season. Now is a good time to plant and transplant, too. And to plan for next year. Spring bulbs: alliums, tulips, and daffodils will be going in before too long, also. Work preparing for winter can wear you out!
Following the advice of one my blogging friends—Jason, from Garden in the City—I have stopped cutting back the perennials in the fall and instead do all my cleaning in the spring. According to Jason, it’s better for the plants and the beneficial critters to leave everything until spring. It’s also world’s easier. I’ve done it for two years and have had great success.
You have a beautiful garden! It is obviously a work of love : )
Many thanks!
Beautifully photographed colours and excellent compositions
I’ve been noticing signs of early autumn everywhere, too. I spent a good bit of time yesterday cutting back all the faded black-eyed Susans in my yard. And it’s positively chilly here this morning!
Chilly here, too. Quite a shock after the intense heat we’ve been having.
Beautiful views of a garden and wonderful insights from you, the creative gardener, who can explain the changes due to season. Its amazing how responsive living things are to sunlight. It will still feel hot like summer here but our desert tortoises know fall is coming and they stop showing up for meals and hang out in their little igloo houses. Suddenly they are hibernating. It is about light more than temperature!
Desert tortoises! Oh, my! They must be a sight to see.
We’re definitely sliding into fall. Still waiting for the asters to bloom, though.
Those asters are the jewels of fall.
Great photos, as always. I especially like the bottom one. It shows, as if we didn’t know, how intricate and beautiful the natural world is.
See you.
Neil
Lovely pictures and lovely gardens, even now. Hope we don’t get a frost tonight. I am, not ready for that.
Thanks, Beth. No frost here, but we are further south than you are and sheltered by the woods.
Lovely photos and summer stills looks beautiful in your part of the world! It’s wonderful to be sharing the best of both seasons, with a little color still remaining while the cooler temperatures and wonderful fall breeze arrives.
Many thanks! Yes, very lovely still. In fact, in Maine, fall is magnificent.
Beautiful photos, Laurie. Your garden looks lovely. So interesting to see what the different climates give as a growing season. I believe Derrick & Jackie’s season is a full third longer than mine, and I am jealous. Then I see what you do with yours, which is much shorter than mine, and I am humbled.
A-w-w-w, thanks, Jodie. I, too, am envious about Jackie and Derrick’s growing season. But, being a Maine girl, I am used to our short growing season.
My little Maine Girl. ❤
😉
Lovely post, Laurie, bittersweetness and all. (More sweet-bitterness, I think.) I’m praying it lasts a few more weeks, as I discovered last weekend that I can swim with one leg, and that makes a good difference.
Thanks, Cynthia! Yes, I bet swimming is just great. Fingers crossed that the warm weather lasts a few more weeks.
I love sedum! And so do the bees and butterflies. Our garden never really recovered from the drought so has been looking a little ragged for some time. Happy Autumn/Fall, Laurie!
Thanks, Clare. Hope next year is better.
Thanks, Laurie – so do I!