garden journal: transitioning seasons

this year, october has been a summer lingering/fall isn't quite here kind of month.  i think this photo expresses that transition rather well with the new zinnias blooming, but with a few fall leaves visible in the background.  this patch is actually supposed to be pansies now, but i got excited about planting something new and summer wasn't quite done, so i'm had to baby the pansies along through a minor heat wave.  meanwhile, ripping the zinnias that were here out last month only exposed more latent seeds to the sunshine and thus i have more zinnias growing.  ah well.  i love flowers, so there's always room for one more in my opinion.

meanwhile it's been raining raining raining.  landlocked tennessee is waterlogged.  my goodness.  i think it rained every day while we were in florida and it's rained every day since we've been back.  i guess summer was trying to fight off the cold front.  it was a valient fight, but i think fall has finally finally arrived.  my marigolds had grown to waist high and just couldn't handle the weight of all that rain.  they were resting on the sidewalk when we got back the other day, so i had to give them a drastic trim today.  i saved a few to put in a pitcher for the house.  they are very festive dressed in pumpkin orange.

i keep getting a few more little peppers.  this reminds me of the book five little peppers and how they grew plus a random mystery pepper.  i assume it's a banana pepper, but it's from a plant that randomly came up from seed last month so i'm not for positive.

fingers and toes all crossed, but i might have a little "third time's the charm" action going on with the cilantro.  i tried again after reading that it likes cooler temps.  this is the healthiest that i've had, and i am very hopeful that i will actually have a cilantro crop this time.

in addition to the cilantro, i planted spinach, carrots, lettuce, and something else that i can't remember.  the spinach and carrots may have been flooded out, but the lettuce and mystery seeds have sprouted.  i also bought a pack of little cabbage plants at lowe's.  i am looking forward to more soups with cabbage homegrown cabbage soon.

this is my weed garden.  i'm so not kidding.  i have a little section that i allow these delicate weeds to grow.  the grass gets pulled ruthlessly, but the woodsorrel, this one, and another that looks somewhat like wandering jew are all allowed to grow.  they look so lush and sweet.

i dumped out most of the tomatoes last month.  they were looking way too pathetic.  i did save two rutgers though and just trimmed them both down to little sprigs.  look!  i have a baby tomato!  maybe i will have a couple more fresh tomatoes to enjoy this fall.  these are in pots on my deck, so i am planning on bringing them in on nights that it may frost.  we'll see.

i have really enjoyed this plant all summer.  not sure of the name.  it's similar to moss roses, but the foliage stays much nicer and it has bloomed prolifically all summer long and is still blooming now, obviously.  hoping to save some seeds and start my own next spring.

the geraniums are starting to perk up again now that it's cooled off a bit.  i'm going to try to store these in my shed this winter and see if they come back in the spring.  anyone have tips on overwintering geraniums?

i know you are probably tired of the morning glories, but they are just so beautiful.  even more so now that it's cooled off and they stay open all day.

the little bees are definitely not tired of them.  this one seemed almost drunk on all the pollen.

and these are the morning glory seed pods.  goodness.  they are everywhere.  a friend who lives in canada told me that they are considered an invasive species there.  i can certainly see why.

i know i said that cilantro is really the only spice i use, but these were so sweet that i brought them home.  my flower bench was looking rather sad, so i thought these might perk it up.

surely i can figure out how to use thyme and oregano.  any suggestions?  soup?

i found a crate myrtle that has self-seeded!  i'm planning on moving it to a new home this fall.

i have under rated the humble knock out rose.  my two bloom their little hearts out.  i'm planning to move them to a sunnier location and try to dust the leaves next spring so the foliage doesn't get all holy on me.

this ornamental cherry is certainly looking very fall festive.  i don't remember it being so loaded down last year.  the tree looks very red right now.  so fun.

the free watermelon vine never made anything.  it had a leaf fungus on it when i got it.  it keeps blooming and making these little melons, but then the turn brown and die.  oh well.  better luck next year.

i finally pulled up the wildflowers in the back forty.  they were looking rather pathetic.  there are a few new things growing up under where they were, like these black-eyed susans.  it's nice to find a few surprises, especially this late in the season.  i like that nature is as eager to postpone winter as i am.

fungus growing on the strawberry bed.  i tell you, it is so damp here right now.

we lost a few limbs from our (stupid) bradford pear trees.  g's dad has cut it all for firewood.  i'm worried that it will stink when burning, but i'm sure it would at least be fine for a bonfire.

that same little drunk from the morning glory bee is now enjoying some tutti frutti.

and i couldn't resist photographing this little guy on my way in the door.  my morning glories are popular!

linking up with manneskjur and "how does your garden grow?"