November is such a peaceful month in many ways.
The garden continues to flourish, but also it's time to peek around searching for the seeds of next spring.
Which flowers to pluck seeds from...
Things begin to slow down and it's a perfect time to appreciate all that lingers from summer's hard work.
A beautiful mess of botanicals get tossed onto my conservatory table.
I stop to marvel at the zinnia petal veins that seemingly create miniature paintings of trees.
I untangle my mess of vintage pink gals who I will take seeds from first.
The most amazing thing about a zinnia is that the seeds live right at the bottoms of the petals.
So, if you pluck the bottom petals slowly, the seeds pop right out, attached to the actual petal.
If the seeds are brown, they are ready.
I am extremely fond of dried botanical specimens myself, how about yourself?
The old pumpkins vines, drying zinnias on a old grape vine wreath...
Some of my favorite things.
So simple, but so November, and beautiful in their own way.
November is a big month for pumpkins in my garden.
Time for picking the lasts and waiting on the lingering fairy tale pumpkins.
There are so many Jack-be- Littles still to be picked, a last minute thought in July.
They made it to full ripeness just in the nick of time.
The rambling wild garden is music to my heart.
The bees are tickled with pure delightment at the basil I finally let go to flower.
They are so funny, the way they stuff their faces into the blossoms.
Makes me so happy to see them enjoying themselves.
I will keep these vintage pink zinnias just for seeds, but I may want more.
I get greedy like that about seeds.
Do you?
Good thing there are more to pick from.
I had the most humongous cherry colored zinnias this summer which I never photographed.
They were huge like dahlias and lasted forever.
I made sure to save a few seeds from them, although the yellow belly finches have made that the fave local hang out for seed chomping :-)
At the end of the day, I flip the switch on my fairy lights and take one last minute to enjoy the evening.
Pumpkins in tow for a while yet.
I love them so.
And even though pumpkins are a thing of October, between you and me, they are really truly November's treats.
Isn't that the best trick yet?
Oh, here is a photo I took on Halloween in my black cape, hood on, picking Princess Alexandria of Kent's with all the rings I could fit on.
Because really, why not?
The days just tumble by.
I am making extra special time to enjoy the garden of this year during these days of November.
It has been so good to me.
At times I wished I had made it bigger and better - typical type A personality of the eldest child I guess.
But, I did all this without ever going to a store.
Just some seeds in my pocket and a bunch of citrus trees I've spent the last few years bringing back to life.
The clouds were big and fluffy today, they took every shape possible.
I just watched them from my desk window here.
The dogs have had baths and they are soft and beautiful.
I scrubbed them and brushed them ever so much.
I love them when they are so cuddly and silk soft.
I think it might rain tomorrow, I can't wait.
Just the mere idea of a petrichor sends me into a dream like state.
I baked two brown Irish soda breads and realized I had never shared my second recipe.
I think I must do that soon, it's super easy and delicious too.
No yeast, no oil, no eggs.
I'll type that out soon for sure come to think of it.
Well, I am on my way.
Getting myself geared up for a big painting project.
How are you out there in your neck of the woods?
I promise to see you soon again.
Love, Vanessa
