Meet me in the Garden?

Did I just say garden? 

Garden in November? 

I know, it is all so strange to me, this garden journey, but yes, I wonder, would you like to meet me for a stroll in the lingering summer garden, on this lovely November day?

  (I am listening to this)

(Click on any photo for a larger, more detailed view)

I feel slightly bewitched by it all.  As well as tricked, for, when have summer flowers lasted so long?  The last couple of weeks have found me frantically capturing every moment of the day in the garden, my walk through, and what I see. 

With 10,000 recent garden photos, and mine poor eyes after looking at all the photos, I dwindled the choices of what to share down to 300.  And then, down to 50 from that.  An incredible endeavor, truly.

For some reason, I had a huge tug in the depth of me, desperately wanting to share the last garden moments with you.  But most importantly, wanting to share it the way that I see it.  From my height, my view.  My most beloved spots...

..

The cool weather is coming, in fact, the winds and cold rain visited us with a fury night before last, leaving snow way up on the mountain.  And still, the garden is in its full glory.  Fuller and happier than it has been since spring.

Without knowledge of which morning I shall awaken to find the garden asleep for fall/winter, I scramble to savor each moment.

But today, today I decide to give in.  I am not giving up on the garden, but I am giving in to the course of nature and an impending visit from father winter during fall, who will quietly put the garden to sleep for a few months.

Shall this be our last garden stroll of the season? 

I have not a clue. 

But, if you would take some time to wander with me, I would be tickled beyond belief....

There are critters and creatures everywhere.

Butterflies and bees have fluttered about in great quantities. 

Sometimes, I just stand still, with butterflies whipping around my head. 

I try to make a memory...

I walk back and forth through the arbor, trying to memorize the colors, the feeling in my soul.  I have a hard time.  Memories are not sticking, my mind feels full, and it can't choose what memory to keep.  If I close my eyes, I can see bits of the garden, but thankfully, a photograph will always let me step back in when the summer flower season comes to an end.

It seems that the dinner-plate dahlias are not ready to give in to cold weather.  With a handful of buds and blooms, they keep on.  I have to find a happy balance in my soul between not being ready for this year's garden to take a nap soon, wanting to soak it all in before then and excited hopefulness for next spring...

Just be, I whisper. 

Just be...

There are still pumpkins and cosmos growing in the garden outside the cottage.  Twin pumpkins, growing bigger everyday.  Unplanned last minute punkin babies, which I am thrilled about.

I try to photograph the butterflies.

They are so quick, so fluttery...

The buzzing of the bees is so loud.

I am beyond overjoyed that they have a place to eat.

I stand amongst them, preparing in acceptance to get stung.

But, they don't sting me.

They fly all around me, my hair, my arms - ignoring my presence.

Pumpkins and flowers are a wonderful combination, me thinks...

Down the porch stairs I go.

We have wooden stairs on one side, concrete stairs on the other side.

Different side, different flower faces.

Choose your side and plunge into the flowers, I shall see you there ;)

I suppose part of my frantic desire to capture every last drop of garden goodness is that, I didn't plan the flowers.

Or did I?

I planted hundreds of seeds.

I didn't have any expectations.

Many didn't happen.

I surprised myself with my daily, unwavering dedication.

No secret gardener, just me.

Every morning since March, I have been out there. 

Watering, trimming, caring for growing things in the desert.

There were pumpkin patches and vegetable gardens too (as you may know).

Then, the garden decided to show me which flower seeds would flourish.

And so, I listened, and watched, and learned...

My garden hummed a tune of flower names, telling me which seeds would work best.  After so many years, I found a combination that my garden loves.  Zinnias, cosmos, marigolds, sweet williams, calendula, nasturtium, coreopsis, evening primrose, sunflowers, verbena, dahlias, hydrangea (in the shade), morning glory, and always roses...

The zinnias are really the amazing surprise this year though.

Blooms that last weeks.

Colors that astound.

Happy in scorching sun.

How can I thank them?

Is there a way?

I wonder?

I can't thank them enough...

The butterflies have adored them as well...

They really put on a show, wowsa!

I stand, silent, camera in hand, snapping 100 photos of one butterfly. 

Every move...

I have not put away all of my Halloween goodies. 

Pumpkin faces linger...

I have changed orange lights to white though...

So pretty....

I hope you brought some tea or coffee, or anything you like to sip?  And that, you are enjoying your garden stroll with me...

I could stand here forever...

Simply gazing at these candy colors...

The time of day changes the garden dramatically.  Morning brings yellows and faded tones, whilst evening brings a fantastically bright glow of color...

The zinnias below are wine red in person.

 Must save lots of those seeds...

Zinnia seeds form at the end of the spent petals.  I just love that.  I start with the petals underneath the flower, and find a seed attached to each petal I carefully remove.

Seed gathering has been a bit of a constant.  I can't wait to see what happens next year...

Did you know zinnias were so pretty?

I will admit, I did not.

I had no clue.

I never really even saw many, or knew much about them.

Just bought some zinnia seeds on a whim, and the rest is...

The morning glories, such a beautiful blue, crawling all over the place...

The front yard...

Then outside of my office, and across the courtyard on the gallery...

The gallery is covered.  This morning I see hundreds of blooms waiting to open with the gentle morning sun...

You can hardly see the windows, I love that!

Also, outside of the gallery are cosmos bigger than my hand.  I never saw such huge cosmos myself.  The purple colors, which meet up with the bright orange marigolds, are super delicious to me...

Oh look, more butterfly love.

What colors/types of butterflies do you see regularly wherever you are in the world?

I have about 5 types that I see all the time in my garden...

And, I am sort of starting to be able to tell the difference between butterflies of the same type that hang out here.  Mostly because of their wing injuries.  One is missing a little spot in one place, others in another....

Sometimes, they all swirl around, mad & frenzied. 

But, they don't appear in my photo, darn ;)

I love this little greenish yellow guy below.

Is he a moth or a butterfly?

I must look into this.

Either way, I love them the same...

Pretty.

Lovely butter...

Candy petals...

So blue, so bright...

Flutter flutter...

Oh, caterpillar!

He had about 10 siblings with him...

Ohhhhh, I almost forgot.

We had massive sunflowers this year.

I have collected 15" diameter sunflower heads, filled with seeds for next year.

This one was much taller than the house...

Orangette (watching her for seeds)...

The lemon tree got caught up in a soirée of super tall cosmos and zinnias.  Hope he doesn't mind too much :)

So.........

On a November day, the sun, still warm, beckons us into the garden...

Where you might meet up with any manner of creature...

And, where butterflies dance, still...

Where all we can do is be thankful, for the last flower garden days of this year...

And, spend as much time frolicking amongst the goodness, as we can!

Thank you so much, for taking a stroll with me, through so many photos.  I hope you had a lovely time, and that for a moment, you really were here.

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

ps:  I feel so guilty!  I didn't mention the thousands of birdling creatures that visit every day.  Birds are fed in the center of the garden, every single day, by Mister Lovee.  He even has different bird feeders for different seeds, based on which birds eat what.  All sorts of beautiful birds gather round and sing extra loud all day long.  We love them so!  I would love to see all the different birds you see where you are.