We had some rain overnight. Our first rain in 30 days. It was marvelous. My wife and I stood and looked out the window to bear witness to the phenomenon.
With the daylight diminishing and the temperatures gradually declining, I can now stop the need for watering. Thank goodness, since the expense is dreadful. There is still plenty of color since there is still no frost and none in the 10 day forecast.
Fall tasks continue. Tender plants are being moved to places of shelter. Decisions are being made on which ones will be protected. The bulbs have arrived but ground temperatures are still above recommended levels for planting.
I will be joining and posting on the Six On Saturday group tomorrow. Here is the link. Come and see or join us and post 6 of your own. https://gardenruminations.co.uk/
The dogwood is the adopted tree of my suburban city. This one is still hanging on. The majority, unforturnately have succumbed to the ravages of disease and insects.
This Purple Heart is showing pretty color for fall.
The sasanquas are abundant right now. They are beautiful until the Japonicas appear in December.
This ginger lily is thriving in full sun and in a well drained area.
I am showing this Alabama native because I so like the leaves that take on this copper color in the fall.
Last of my six is a Monarch butterfly on a zinnia. This is my first Monarch butterfly seen this year. They are migrating south and some will winter along the Gulf Coast of Alabama in the area of Fort Morgan. Another main route of migration is further south into northern Mexico. That group will overwinter there until February when the northern migration will begin again. It is a truly remarkable story.
Happy Gardening!
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Autumn colors but you still managed to capture a Monarch butterfly on a zinnia flower! Bravo !
Such amazing long flights for butterflies.
They are remarkable. Their numbers are drastically declined. They need Asclepias (milkweed) as a host plant so I am doing my part.
Glad to hear you’ve had some rain. The Ginger Lily is very pretty.
Yes. More scheduled for next week. October is historically our dry month. November usually begins our wet fall.
It has been dry here as well, ironic when so many people here and abroad are suffering from flooding. We had 2.5 inches the other day and more rain forecast, but nevertheless, I need to empty my other rain barrel which I meant to do last weekend. Nice Monarch. I spotted one mature caterpillar that hopefully pupated somewhere and maybe only two butterflies. I usually see more than that but I had zero black swallowtail caterpillars this year and I usually get loads. I figure that is better evidence of them being around than whether or not I happen to be outside when they are in my garden. Hopefully next year will be better.
The color on the croton is nice! I keep hoping that my weeping cherry will have a similar color. Been so warm here it is maybe starting to change now. The leaves are dark green. but maybe starting to yellow. We’ll see if it makes it into a six this fall!
Sigh… if only rain could be distributed fairly. I must admit to hoping we have a much drier winter and spring than last year, so far the late autumn has been quite mild. Lovely to see your butterfly. I was pleased to see large bumblebees enjoying the fuchsias this week. Butterflies and bees of all kinds have been sadly missing this year.
Lovely colours, Camellia and Monarch! 🌼🦋