The boss was at a conference at the coast yesterday so I managed to score an extra day off. After doing all of my regular Friday chores I decided to go out and putter in the yard.
Before dragging out the scuffle hoe and rake I took the camera out to snap some pics of the changing leaves in our yard.
First the back yard....
The leaves on the Forest Pansy Redbud are changing from deep burgundy and green to a lighter color and are starting to curl. Soon they will drop to the ground.
Before dragging out the scuffle hoe and rake I took the camera out to snap some pics of the changing leaves in our yard.
First the back yard....
The leaves on the Forest Pansy Redbud are changing from deep burgundy and green to a lighter color and are starting to curl. Soon they will drop to the ground.
The two maple trees are just starting to show some bright red leaves.
And the grasses are starting to show their fall colors too. We have 6 of these in the back yard in two groups of 3.
The leaves on the Japanese Clarodendrum are starting to turn yellow, but that hasn't stopped it from blooming.
When I opened the side gate to go into the front yard I saw that the Hick's Yews had red berries on them. I didn't know they did that.
And now for the front yard.......
This 'Autumn Joy' Sedum is living up to it's name. We have several clumps of them that we chop down in early spring and they are always one of the first things to come back up. This one is by our mailbox out front and is just over 2 feet tall.
This 'Autumn Joy' Sedum is living up to it's name. We have several clumps of them that we chop down in early spring and they are always one of the first things to come back up. This one is by our mailbox out front and is just over 2 feet tall.
We also have a few varieties of Viburnums that have wonderful fall color.
The Raywood Ash trees were some of the first to start changing colors.
The Satomi Dogwood has these on it. Not sure what purpose they serve. A Google search just tells me they are hanging red fruit.
A random maple leaf blew into the yard from the neighbors.
Spirea Magic Carpet.
The Himalayan Honeysuckle is in full bloom with no signs of the leaves dropping. I love this shrub but have heard it is invasive in other areas such as New Zealand. Maybe Geoff or Roger can let us know if it is a problem across the pond.
I decided to take a few pictures of the front yard as a whole. Bear in mind this was prior to the 3 hours of weeding and general clean up and I was too tired after to take neater ones.
Of course, it is a fry cry from what it looked like when we bought the place 5 years ago.
We've done a lot to the place but we still have more to do. We've kind of let the front yard go over the last few years, but now that our obnoxious neighbors across the street moved out we can finally get back out in the yard and enjoy making it nice again.
On my way back into the house, I found this on the walkway.
On my way back into the house, I found this on the walkway.
We are having a potluck picnic tomorrow with our friends from the local motorcycle forum. The weather looks good so we are hoping to put the food items we are bringing into the saddlebags and top cases and ride to the park in Bellfountain. Hopefully we'll get some pictures of more fall foliage then too. If not we'll at least have motorcycles to take pics of.
I have to include at least some food porn. I tried out a new recipe from Vegetarian Times called Quinoa & Wild Rice Stuffed Squash. I substituted Chinese Black Rice for the wild rice, and cooked the squash a little longer than stated, but was impressed with how yummy it was. Troubadour gave it two thumbs up too.
I have to include at least some food porn. I tried out a new recipe from Vegetarian Times called Quinoa & Wild Rice Stuffed Squash. I substituted Chinese Black Rice for the wild rice, and cooked the squash a little longer than stated, but was impressed with how yummy it was. Troubadour gave it two thumbs up too.
- Au Revoir
"Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter." ~ Carol Bishop Hipps
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Wow!!!! What fantastic plants and colours you have in your garden - they're simply gorgeous!! That's the downside of living in our area of NZ - you don't get those lovely autumnal colours. I've never seen Sedums that large!
ReplyDeleteHimalayan Honeysuckle - It's not been classed as a noxious weed over here, but it can be quite invasive. There were pretty big clumps of it growing under the canopy of the production forests of the company I worked for. Don't think people generally grow it in gardens.
Thanks for the look at your lovely home and garden!
I admire your green thumb. Your garden is wonderful, even more so with change of seasons. I am just the opposite, I am known to even kill rockeries ;-)
ReplyDeleteI know my way around the kitchen though, and will try the recipe. The result for sure looks delicious.
Wow. Stunning foliage. You are seeing more color changes in your neck of the woods than I am in my yard yet. Though our mountains are a different story. I love the veins and texture in the Viburnum leaves.
ReplyDeleteYou have done a great job transforming the house from what it was to what it is. Great vision.
And the squash looks delicious!
I envy those who have green thumbs, I am the epitome f the brown thumb gardener. I don't enjoy gardening, it's a good thing my kid knows how to cook! The colors in your garden are lovely. The squash looks delish, I could so be happy eating that.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I open your blog I love the picture of your bike, the headlight almost looks like it is heart shaped.
You guys have a beautiful yard! Nice job on the landscaping. All the colors are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteTrobairitz:
ReplyDeleteyou really do have a green thumb. everything I touch turns to brown. I'm not even good at cutting grass. You've done wonders to your yard
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
Thank you everyone for the kind words. I cannot take all the credit for the yard as Troubadour is the plant geek in the family and has put in a lot of hard work.
ReplyDeleteApparently he finds it painful to watch me use a shovel so he has done 99% of the planting. I am good at weeding, pruning, deadheading, and general clean up. He is the brains and has the vision.