Mr. Rabbit

We have about 30 of these guys scattered around the back yard. Every year we tell ourselves that we should pick them up before the leaves fall. we never do it because it's an admission that winter is on its way. The concrete ones can weather the winter, the clay ones can't, so I'm starting the search once we mulch the leaves.

rain drop

We have lilies of the valley scattered about our side yard. These red berry like things are what's left after the leaves fade. I know I'm showing my lack of the correct garden lingo. I'm guessing they are lily of the valley seeds waiting to dry out. None the less, these bright red globes add a nice touch to an otherwise browner and browner garden. The water drop almost looks like it's going to fall to the ground at any minute.

alright, it's fall

But I can still take naps on my favorite chair after working in the yard.

pretty much gone

The hosta are pretty much gone. The big blues and sum and substances are wilted puny looking shadows of themselves. I'll miss them and start looking for them in March. The ligularia in this pic are 1 and 2 years old. I threw seed the last 2 falls. Our mature plants have all faded, but these new guys are still going strong. The turtle head plants are still nice and green also. This was our first attempt at eliminating turf grass as part of our back yard.

almost time to mow

We got your yellow leaves. We got your red leaves. We got your used to be green leaves. And most of them are on the ground. It's supposed to rain tonight, so that will bring the rest down. I wanted to get some pics of the leaves before they get all wet and matted down. You know, if the rain has a wind with it, my neighbors will have to leaf blow my leaves and I won't have many to mow. The lawn looks so good with a capet of leaves.

why would you want to leaf blow this

The best part of fall is the color. All the leaves on the ground make a beautiful mosiac that is so peaceful to look at. While Pat and I were working on the garden today we were seranaded by a chorus of leaf blowers. Maybe there's a law that eveyone has to own a leaf blower. We don't and I hope the lawn police don't find out. We spread 10 tons of sweet peet a year in our beds, so baging and trashing leaves seems kinda misguided (I usually use stronger language). I'll mow the leaves to mulch in the yard and compost the ones in the paths. Until then, I'll enjoy the sights.

view from the yard

The contrast between the golds, greens and reds in the yard make the inevitability of winter a little easier to take. Some of the heartier plants will be going strong until the first killing frost. Hopefully it will snow first. Snow without a frost makes for some cool pics.

around the yard

Even when we're working in the yard, there's always time for pics. The ladies mantel is still holding up. The big blue is no longer so big or blue. It's gold leaves are still striking.

I need help with this plant. I picked it up at a garden club plant sale and lost the tag immediately. The major domo of the garden club told me that it was a ground cover. I guess that is strictly true. It's just that it reached over three feet tall this summer. That's one of the reasons we gave up on garden clubs. Is it a type of petasitis? We have it planted in an area where the clay has been amended with sweet peet. The soil is moist year round. The plant is in the shade about half the day.