Things here are rapidly on their way to presenting us with an early winter. Burrrr. I'm not at all ready for that. The most of the flowers are already brown and crispy, the rest are making their last showing...their Last Hurrah, as it were. This is a good thing, because I NEED to see a bit of colour to balance out the brown and dark green foliage that is dominant in the flower garden at this time. The most common flower colour is yellow/orange. I have some flowers to show today that are still blooming and some taken a couple of weeks ago but are now no longer alive. To further dampen my spirits, I have noticed that there has been some signs of frost already. It is to be seen on the courgette leaves and Butternut squash. Here is a sad one that I refer to as a "burnout". These Dahlias are all gone now. As are these... This Calendula is the last Calendula growing in the flower garden. It's colour is rich though. This is the very last sunflower. All the rest are not only dead, but have had all their seeds eaten by the titmice and finches. A deviation from the yellow swathe is this hardy Nepeta peeking through the leaves of the Pampas Grass plant. I have Nepetas planted around the base of it. The Black-eyed Susans are still going strong, but I have seen the first ones beginning to throw in the towel. If you look carefully, you can see a wayward Knautia macedonica peeping through the yellow mass. The Helianthus 'Lemon Queen' is also much worse off today than a couple of weeks ago when I captured this bumble bee straggler. It is a credit to their races---the bees and plants that hang on so tenaciously, here in the fading days of the season. This is a weed, blooming perhaps it's last bloom and a little Episyrphus balteatus (a hover-fly type) taking one of it's last drinks of nectar. You know, this weather here gives me the impression that we are slipping right into winter and skipping right over fall altogether. We are already having sleet and hail regularly now. Burrrrrr....Time for a cuppa to warm my hands. My nose and ears are like little ice cubes...Arrrrgh, I'm NOT ready for winter!
Just keep thinking of spring Sjoerd. Think about the return of colour. Before you know it it will be Christmas time and you'll be almost there
Isn't it sad to see all our lovely flowers dying at this time of year? However, just think ahead to next spring when the gardens will all come alive again. :-D
I know exactly what you mean Sjoerd! I so dislike this time of year watching my poor plants shrivel up. Nice photos.
Thanks for the advice, FRANK-- I shall do just that. Yes, it is a bit sad, EILEEN...but I shall think ahead, in fact I am already making a list of things that I will plant next year. Thanks very much, NETTY--Oh, I do too, They do look sad, but they have done a great job in spite of the weather conditions this past season.
I can't find any sunny words, sorry. I look outside and there's around 8 cm or three inches of snow, and it's only October! Poor bees.
Awwwk!--SNOW!!! Oh, good grief, Droopy! This is disturbing news, since you are so close by. We had a bit of very wet snow yesterday....I am in denial, so I am calling it "soft sleet", instead. The weather was coming from the north--do ya reckon that is was an offshoot from your weather up there? Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....
Beautiful last blooms Sjoerd. I feel like the bloom in the first photo SNOW, really Droopy???? Oh, I am so jealous. If we trade places you will still have plenty of gardening time and I won't.
Toni....now! What's wrong?? Is it the heat? I'll bet that Droopy would trade with you in a flash....for a short-term change.
I will, I will! Just ship it over, I need two-three more weeks in order to get ready. It's sleet today, but it's still white and cold.
you stewbies are awful, using that 's' word!!! looks like we MIGHT get a little late next week...not ready yet, and i know we're pushing it. lovely pics sjoerd. keep these handy so we can look at them again come mid-winter!
....I knoooooow....the "S" word. I'm not at all ready for it. Thanks for liking the pics, Bunkie. Maybe you can get some pics next year of your dragonflies. They are such curious beasts.
aren't they tho sjoperd?! i was afraid when they first started hanging around the duck pond, that the ducks would eat them. but, nobody's bothering with them. i think something might be wrong with our ducks. they don't seem to like flies either?!
hahaha....your ducks are what we call, "Fijnproevers"...you know, fine tasters with delicate palates. They are apparently only accustomed to and interested in the finest of Anatidae cuisine. Who'da thought.
You never fail to impress me with whatever photo you take. They are all so nice. If you are feeling the bite of winter, drop by at my place, I sure do need your great hands!!
