We are still picking green beans in the garden.  That's because I planted them three times.  It's called succession planting.

 

I planted the first row in June when the ground was warm enough to germinate the seeds.  Then I planted another row in July when I took out the peas.  Then I planted another row when I took out the cucumbers.  They have all done well.  When one row is done, the next one starts blooming and producing beans.

 

So just about every day when I go out to the garden, I get a handful (or a pocketful) of beans.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patty's butterfly bushes are so pretty right now!!!  She says they are easy to grow; just plant them and stand back.  Not high maintenance plants.

 

As we were walking by the other day, we saw Monarchs on them.  That makes me so happy.

 

I had a friend in Virginia Beach who worked inside the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.  He said that when the Monarchs were migrating (this time of year) they would often fly THROUGH the tunnel.  I would LOVE to see that!!!

 

In the meantime, I'll just enjoy seeing them in our gardens.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I guess the only bad thing about being the first to change color in the fall, is that you are the first to drop your leaves.

 

That's what happened with this Black Gum tree on Stonebriar.  It was one of the first to turn bright red.  And look at it now.  Ready for winter.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Well, the Welcome Committee decided that we needed a new sign to announce happenings in the neighborhood.  Of course, I volunteered.  This is right up my alley.

 

In the middle of the night while I wasn't sleeping, I thought up a new sign.  We would use chalkboard paint on a wood board.  In the morning I told Jon about my idea, and the dimensions.  He went to the basement, and was back in 2 minutes with the table top that we saved from the old van.  See the nice frame?

 

We taped off the frame, and he sanded it and sprayed it with several coats of chalkboard paint.  Tada!!!  All that was left was to add eyebolts on the top, and hang it at the pavilion.

 

Now everybody coming and going can read about upcoming events.  I love it when a project comes together.

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

 

 

 

Not sure what it looks like in your part of the world, but this is the view from midway up the mountain.  Doesn't look much like fall yet.

 

Usually by the third week of October, we are seeing more fall color.  I'm not comparing years, because to do that I'd have to keep better records.  But I do know that the leaf-peepers usually show up for the third weekend of October.  

 

I'll keep you updated on Fall in our mountains.

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

 

I love the forest, in all seasons.  It is peaceful, quiet, and calming.

 

I heard a cool phrase about the forest:  Forest Bathing.  It is the meditative practice of immersing oneself in the forest for no other reason than to be in the forest.  I love that!!!  I couldn't remember the proper spelling of the Japanese word, so I looked up forest bathing in Wikipedia.  The word is Shinrin-yoku.

 

Wikipedia has a pretty good page on forest bathing.  They describe it as an unscientific technique to improve health.  That's ok, it is still an interesting read.  Go to   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_therapy?wprov=sfti1   

 

Just reading about it is calming in itself;  better yet, take a walk in the woods for the real therapy.  We are so fortunate to be able to just step out the front door, and be in the woods.  Five Forks is such a great place to live.

 

HAPPY OCTOBER!!!

 

We were walking in the Park the other day, and I saw this familiar plant.  It looks quite different in the fall than in the spring.  

 

In the spring, it has a green spath-like flower.  And in the fall, that flower has turned into these red berries.  Do you know NOW what it is?

 

Yep.  Jack-in-the-pulpit.  They are a lot easier to spot in the woods with their red berries, than when they are all green.

 

I thought you'd like a little trip into the woods in the fall.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Do you recognize this fern?  It is Baker Fern, the kind that florists use in flower arrangements.  

 

Momma brought me a pot of this fern the first time she and Betsy came to visit, in 2004.  It came from her friend, Stacia's garden.  It hasn't gotten very big, but every year it gives me 10-15 leaves.  

 

I love it, and always remember planting it with Momma all those years ago.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I love being in the garden this time of year!!!  We were cleaning up, and clearing out the tomato cages, and I saw this Common Sulphur dancing around in the Nasturtiums.  

 

Needless to say, I'm not ready to clear out the Nasturtium yet!!!  I have lots of those seeds too.  Happy to share.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

If there aren't already a thousand reasons to plant marigolds, here's one more:  Monarchs!!!! Apparently, they are passing through right now.  

 

I have plenty of marigold seeds, and I'm happy to share.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!