BG1

We have a number of interesting flowers still in bloom, so I thought I'd share these before chasing other topics.  I have to admit I'm tired of just sharing posts about flowers in our garden, but given my mobility limitations it's the best I can do.  All too soon we'll all be wishing for more garden pictures!

The first is a very unusual plant you won't see in many gardens, one that looks like a giant thistle until the flowers emerge.  This is Bear's Breeches, a Mediterranean plant.

Another pair of unusual plants are these Globe Thistles.  They are not thistles, but the leaves sure look like they should be.  As you can see they come in blue and white varieties, an interesting addition to our garden.

And of course we've had dozens of Hostas blooming over the last six weeks.  this is one of the last.

Finally these are the last few Day Lilies to flower.  Without them the garden looks strangely bare.

Achy Back Acres, A Local Farm

 Halfway between Owen Sound and Meaford on the south side of the highway, sits an farm outlet for organic veggies.  It's run by a couple we have got to know quite well; we stop there regularly at this time of year to buy garlic, beans, peas and other veggies.  Not tomatoes so much as Mrs. F.G. grows her own.  We highly recommend it if you're into local food.  I don't usually repeat posts, but at this time of year this one is worth it!

There's a sign on the highway just east of Keefer Creek valley to entice you in their laneway, and another directing you to the table of veggies.

Here everything gets planted, watered and picked by hand.  Weekends you have to be there early to get your choice.

On this visit they had plenty of small tomatoes, though we weren't buying.

They also had potatoes, but that year we were growing our own.

But they also had lots of green beans, which we love.  If you stop in say hello to Brian and Freda from us!

It's Beginning to Feel Like Fall Around Here!

 I'll set aside the issue of climate change and whether fall is actually arriving earlier than it used to, but there are definitely a lot of signs in the air that Fall will soon be here.  And since the title of this blog refers to changing seasons, I think it's useful to make note of these changes.

Among wildflowers I always associate Golden\mrod with the coming of fall.  It's not a popular 'weed', but it's bright yellow plumes brighten up every piece of 'waste' ground around town, and many ditches or fields outside of town.  I found this plant in a narrow strip of ignored soil between two parking lots downtown, blooming freshly among the fading Queen Anne's Lace and the Chicory.

But that's just the most obvious sign of fall in my books.  

The Blue Jays are screaming in the morning and the other day we saw some Canada Geese flying over in their typical 'V' formation.  Some birds have already left for warmer climes, and of course some will be with us all winter.  Birds like Chickadees and Juncos are moving south out of the boreal forest to join us during the winter months.

The mornings are noticeably cooler, with dew of the grass.  The harvest is well underway, as here we're picking tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.  On the farms the wheat harvest is already finished, and sweet corn is for sale at the farm gate.  We are past Lammas Day, the ancient celebration of the coming harvest.  

Just last night we were remarking on how the darkness was arriving earlier.  My own care-giving schedule means I get up and go to bed in the light all summer, but I get up and go to bed in the dark all winter.  It's quite the obivous change!  Here's to a nice sunny warm fall!

Monarchs!

 We have had Monarch butterflies fluttering around the garden all summer long, attracted we hope, to the numerous Milkweed plants that Mrs.F.G. has allowed to flourish.  I've never managed a good photograph of one; the one below is one of the worst photos of Monarchs I've ever taken.  But it proves they were here!

This photo was taken through the window and heavily cropped about five weeks ago.  The challenge of course is to find the eggs, always on the underside of Milkweeds leaves.  Monarchs will feed from any flower, but the caterpillars need Milkweed leaves.  

 

Eventually I did get to find a caterpillar myself, with those classic white, yellow and black bands.

And just a few days later, here it is, munching away.  However we have not found any chrysalis, nor have we seen fresh new butterflies fluttering around.  Never-the-less, we hope we contributing to their survival by having lots of Milkweed.

And here's one of my better photos from the past.

Around the Neighbourhood

 Yesterday I went for a ride around the neighbourhood, something I haven't done much of this year.  And I found a few interesting things.

This line of wildflowers replaces an old overgrown sidewalk which was no long being maintained, and extends into part of a ditch.  It's at least 100 feet long and 20 feet wide.  What a great space for pollinators!

It seemed to be mostly yellow flowers just now,, Grey-headed Coneflowers, ornamental daisies, and huge sunflowers of a sort, at least 10 feet high.

Around another block is this wacky garden of plants and ornaments.  They started by placing that line of rocks across the front in the early spring, and they've gradually been filling it in since.

There's a grey heron, a little doll, and an old hand-pump.

And finally, this home has always had a patch of Milkweed in one corner beside the driveway, but now the Milkweed occupy a significant corner of the front lawn.  I hope there are lots of Monarchs visiting!

Back to the Day Lilies

 Our season of beautiful Day Lilies is drawing to a close.  They've been brightening our garden since July 6th, but they will soon be over.  It always fascinates me how these flowers have so many buds, but each one only opens for a day.  They are certainly the highlight of the summer in our garden!

There are only four different ones still in bloom, and I think this purple one is the prettiest.

The last of the orange-flavoured flowers.

This very deep dark purple one is out the living room window, in a place where I can`t get close, but its dark colour is unique.

The flower that will go on the longest as I remember, is this one.  It may very well be the last one blooming.

Harvest Season

It's a wonderful time of year!  The veggie harvest is beginning to come in fast, and we can pick up amazing fruit at the market.  And it's jam-making season as a result!

These are our own tomatoes, ready to just pop in your mouth or slice for a sandwich.

Five dozen heads of garlic, fresh from the farm.  It is now hanging in the garage to dry out, and will be given to others or ground into garlic powder.

Fresh peaches from the farm market in Thornbury, grown in Niagara.

And the result, 48 hour later, 12 jars of peach jam!

And a sunflower bouquet to add some seasonal colouir.