Summer's End Approaches

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The last days of summer are upon us and once again I wonder where the summer went. Thank goodness I have the foresight to take photos else I would think my entire summer was wasted. Just looking at these wonderful images lets me know that my efforts were not in vain and the fruits of my labor, although fleeting, were well worth the effort.

The patch of transplanted marigolds that you saw in my last post filled out nicely. Here you can see a picture of them one month after the transplant and again as they appear today. They have grown so thickly that they have closed ranks with no space between the blossom heads. An insect could easily walk from one end of the patch to the other without need to take wing, so dense is the carpet of bright yellow orange blooms.  My coleus is not to be outdone, exhibiting its green-edged scarlet leaves in an impressive show. As usual, my black-eyed susans were a riot of flowers, completely taking over the northern border of my front garden. Alas, they will riot no more in my yard as I have uprooted them all and given them away to other deserving gardeners, keeping only a large potful for myself. I have reclaimed the space they used for next year's vegetable garden. I have enjoyed the few herbs I have planted this year so much that I am determined to do more of it next year.

This year I had a mystery melon appear in my garden. At first I had no idea what it was until it began to ripen and reveal itself as a canteloupe. I grew two canteloupes, one average in size and the other much smaller, about the size of a softball. The smaller one fell off the vine before it reached full maturity so it didn't sweeten up as  much as the larger one. I also have gourds for the first time, the seeds having been sent to me from North Carolina. Although I was told they would not bear until next year, I have two pears shaped gourds growing. My hope is to have them ready for painting for the Halloween/Thanksgiving season as these gourds are ornamental, not edible.

A Painted Lady butterfly takes a sip.

My garden is not only a haven for plants. It is a way station for all manner of wildlife. Butterflies, dragonflies, bees, spiders, caterpillars, birds...even my neighbor's cat, all seek refuge and perhaps a sip of nectar. For more pictures of my garden, including all it's visitors, please check out my photobucket album, My Garden - 2010 edition.

Ballo ergo sum
- Gitana, the Creative Diva