The Mexican Marigold Mint is one of the stars of the garden right now.
The Marigolds are a big part of my Fall color, even though they have been blooming all summer.
Lots of little critters are busy collecting and harvesting, getting ready for winter.
This is the first year I have really had a lot of marigolds, and they have been worth it. I hope the seeds I have been saving are viable, because I love having them this time of year.
Aster with Purple Heart behind it.
Oh my! Looks like I need to do some dead-heading!
The Jacob's Coat is putting out more blooms now that we are enjoying cool weather and rain.
The birds have missed some berries on the Virginia Creeper.
I love the way it vines over the fence. I hope my neighbor feels the same way.
Our backyard backs up to 7 neighboring yards...One 'neighbor' in the corner has taken it upon herself to tear down anything that peeps over the fence! This is my last surviving Hummingbird Vine given to me by Nola at Alamo North.
I love the warm afternoons, with lengthening shadows, that turn into the cool nights of Fall. They seem to stretch endlessly between frequent showers now. I find I lose myself to them gardening. Planting for next Spring, mulching, reworking beds. The holidays always catch me by surprise and I find myself rushing to do all the inside cleaning, cooking, and shopping at the last minute because I can't tear myself away from the garden a second sooner than I have to.
35 comments:
Oh, how nice - to be gardening all through the fall! Your garden looks lovely. Your marigolds are so pretty. I posted some too! Too bad your neighbour cuts anything that peeps over the fence. You'd think they'd consider it a gift!
Happy gardening!
MG, you have some lovely fall colors. So glad you are happy about your msrigold and I am sure the seed will thrive in your climate.
I don't know the Creeper got berries-maybe all ours get eaten before I see them.
Enjoy your warm afternoons and cool nights. Sounds like perfect fall weather.
Wendy, it seems the garden has taken a breath, and has come back stronger than it was all summer--it was just hanging on by a thread, it was so hot. The "Not Nice Neighbor" doesn't just cut it back--I wouldn't mind that so much--she rips it out and throws it over the fence in my yard. Some people are just not fun to be around!
Beckie, believe it or not, I haven't had much luck with marigolds before. This year I planted them with basil and tomatoes, and they seemed to thrive. Not sure if it was location or combination--next year I will try a different combo.
The Creeper has the prettiest little blue berry on it that grows in clusters and has a bloom on them--and the birds love them.
It has been perfect weather--although most might not think rain perfect, but we have gotten more rain in the past month than we have gotten all year!
Lovely colors!!!
I think lots of people don't realize how great the Marigolds are for fall. We sell them like hotcakes at work.
Your neighbor sounds rather hostile. Is it your fence? He really doesn't have a right to pull anything off someone else's fence.
Marnie
It's so good to see such bright blooms in your garden at this time of year! Most of my garden is brown:) I would think those marigold seeds would be fine for next year; it's always nice to have some "freebies" to use in next year's garden.
This time of year my house is terribly neglected, although I really have no excuse right now--with all the rain we've had, good gardening days are few and far between.
That's a shame about your neighbor... esp. hummingbird vines, which are so nice. Harumph!
How 'bout I send you more seed, enough to plant and still have some to throw over into the neighbor's yard? It amazes me that some people don't love plants! If something came creeping over my fence, I'd be overjoyed!
Marigolds are such useful and colourful plants. I don't think we appreciate them enough.
I agree, I spend all my time in the garden......and everything else is done in a rush. Still....what a lovely way to spend time birds bees and blooms.....perfect.
Dear Urban Green,
Thank you! I just love these colors for Fall. Since we don't really get the seasonal color change like those up North, I have to have some in the flowers I grow--and nothing says Fall like pumpkin orange.
Dear MG what a colourful treat this post is! I think Marigolds are underrated although in my garden they are adored...by the Snails ;(
With so many posts celebrating Autumn it is refreshing to have someone reminding us still of Summer, all your photos are lovely and have put a smile on the face of someone who no matter how I try always gets a little 'lost' at this time of year.
Your neighbour sounds rather mean spirited...such a shame but it is her loss if she can't appreciate your beautiful blooms! I assume that is not the same neighbour who has the trampoline which your Lady Banks scrambles over?
:)
Dear Susie,
Marigolds are such colorful little plants, but I must confess, I usually don't have much luck with them. This year was different--I guess our snail population was smaller because of the drought.
Hi Marnie,
They are very hostile. For the most part, we have a very friendly neighborhood...there always has to be someone who is grouchy, I guess. It is his fence--all 15 feet of it.
Rose, It is hard to believe that your garden is already done for the most part. Our growing season is so long, I forget that it's not that way for everyone.
It is good to know other's suffer from the same malaise--housework-itis. I usually don't recover until the week before Thanksgiving.
Monica, Harrumph is right! Some people are just unreasonable.
I just LOVE all the beautiful color popping up all over my garden. Yes, Fall takes away the leaves eventually, but in the mean time my garden sings like it is Spring all over again.
I have so enjoyed a walk through your colorful palette of flowers. So vibrant! A fiesta for the eyes. : D
Nola, I know! I am always thrilled when the neighbor's (on the other side of the house) Wisteria vines over our side of the fence--free flowers for me! This particular neighbor has a sterile yard with no flowers at all. Nothing but grass, and little shrubs lining the front of their house like little soldiers standing guard.
I would love some more seed if you have any to spare.
Cheryl, Marigolds are such cheerful little plants--it's good to know other's enjoy them too.
I wonder if we are storing up all the time we can outside just to get us through the winter when gardening time outside is rare. To me, getting my hands in the dirt, is like breathing--a necessity.
Dear Shy Songbird,
You have a very good memory! No, it isn't the same neighbor that Lady Banks tried to eat their trampoline. ;-) This particular neighbor is very mean spirited. They have complained because we have tree branches that extend into their yard and because our dogs bark. It is just ridiculous how petty some people are.
It is so reassuring to know there are others that share my fondness of marigolds, and neglecting housework to playing in the garden.
Have a wonderful week!
Hugs,
Jenny
I planted Mexical Mint Marigold for the first time this year. I was pleasantly surprised by the pretty little flower. The marigolds in my garden continue to bloom in spite of light frosts here in PA. Definitly a annual to plant every year for me.
Marie,
Is the Mexican Mint Marigold an annual for you? Here it is a perennial...I have had the plant I pictured for ten years now. I love it. It can be used as an herb, which tastes something like Terragon--hence it's name Texas Terragon or Spanish Terragon.
Marigolds are such a colorful happy flower. It has been some years since I have had it in my garden, and I have enjoyed it so much this year. Since our weather has cooled down, it has really taken off.
Debbie in CA,
Fall is my favorite season. The garden and I both take a breath after the sweltering summer, and enjoy the cooler days--even the drizzly ones. The garden puts on a lovely show before the first frost comes--usually the first week in December. I love all the happy colors of autumn.
Beautiful photogrpahs of your magical garden :)
I know what you mean about pesky neighbours...I had a lovely honeysuckle which rambled over the shared fence...so pretty, with exquisite perfume...but it got chopped down on the other side...
Your marigolds are doing a great job, beauty for you and food for the insects too :)
Your hummingbird vine sounds so exotic...wish you could keep it from being taken down...
I agree about choosing between gardening or shopping/housework hee hee...I like to live in mine all day long :)
Hi Jenny, it sounds lovely, staying in the garden so long that you nearly miss the holidays. May your little cypress vine survive the crazy neighbor too. Marigolds are so hard working and last so long here as well. I would not be without them. :-)
Frnaces
Dear WG, thank you for your kind words.
It's so frustrating when neighbors don't have the same appreciation for nature. Even gardeners can't agree on honeysuckle or morning glories.
I'm not sure how to approach my neighbor problem, but I do plan on having Hummingbird Vine again next year. I'll have all winter to figure out my plan of action.
I am so glad so many others appreciate the humble little marigold. The bees certainly do.
Hi Frances,
Our weather has been absolutely perfect. After the brutal summer we had, I couldn't stay inside if my life depended on it! We may have to have Thanksgiving outside!
neighbors can be gifts or pains in the bottom! I see yours is the latter!
I'm with you...the simple marigold doesn't like my garden! I will try again...some are quite nice. gail
Gail,
Most of my neighbors are wonderful--it's just that one bad apple...
Marigolds are so worth the trouble to get them to grow. I hope they do as well for me next year. Ah! Here we are, dreaming about Spring all ready!
I see you have some great blooms yet. My marigolds got nipped by the cold weather. There may be some that don't come true to their parents, but I've never had one come up that I didn't like.
Last year, I didn't seem to have as many coming up, so I looked on Freecycle because I wanted some that had come from other volunteers. The nice guy let me dig a few plants as well as take some of his seeds. This year, I had about 8 plants come up. I scattered their seed heads all over the garden. They move easily, so I can put them where I want them and give some away if too many come up.
What you said about the holidays coming and scurrying to clean your house is normally true for me. This year, though, now that my knee and ankle are feeling better, the weather is not cooperating on the days I am available to be in the garden. I think tomorrow will be an outside day.
I just spent 2 and a half days going through things and cleaning the dining room we have in a room that is really a bedroom. It looks much better, but I ended up getting frustrated and throwing some things back into the closet that I still need to go through. I'm glad most of it is done, but I'd still rather be outside.
Dear Sue,
You really took a nasty fall earlier in the season. I am glad you are healing, and hope by the holidays you are totally well.
I've not had good luck in the past with marigolds, so I am not sure if this year was just a fluke, or if I will be able to replicate my success next year. When I lived in Houston, I had marigolds year around, and they were so easy to propagate. I became very discouraged when I moved here, and had so much trouble with them. I do love their lush foliage and happy colorful blooms.
I love the colors of fall! But I still hate to see the flowers leave -- next to the spring daffodils -- these last garden flowers are the best!
Martha, I do love the fall colors too--you are so right--the last of the flowers are so enjoyable--almost as much as those first crocus peeping up through the ground.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hello MG, haven't visited you for a while, I am saying hello to all the names on my followers list and inviting you to stop by for a birthday month visit.
QMM
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