A Selfish Break
It’s been raining a lot. Everything is soaked and mosquitoes are out in force like I haven’t seen in years. Thought I’d take this opportunity to write with no real subject in mind… Just some blah blah blah on this and that.
There is no deadline. Nothing that must be written here. Yet it is a little break from the day to day of work, dishes, laundry, bills… you know.
A blog break.
The Monarchs are back this year thankfully. Perhaps it’s due to my resisting pulling the wild milkweed. The milkweed has also escaped the weedwhacker. Whatever the reason, I’m glad they’re back. Their presence was missed last year.
Monarchs practically live on our Buddleia. There is good reason Buddleias are called Butterfly Bushes, and that is good enough reason to grow them.
I noticed the Monarchs seemed to have a preference for my Meteor Sedum.
As did many others. If you look at the center picture, you will see Sedum Spectabile Brilliant behind Sedum Spectabile Meteor. Brilliant did not get as much activity.
I’ve been trying to enjoy what is left of simple Summer…
Reblooming Creeping Phlox
though Summer has left and nothing seems simple.
And yet preparing for what is next…
What is next?
During this transition of Seasons I feel like I’m losing my focus. Like I’m losing control as we slip into Fall.
Yet, we are already Falling. The air is turning cold, which just gives me another reason to stay inside. So many people say they love Fall. Really.
Precious little of the usual bright leaf colors so far this year. We New Englanders do get spoiled when it comes to Fall foliage.
Not so much weeding to be done now. Well surely I could find some, but the mosquitoes won’t allow it anyway. They are not staying in the wooded areas as they should be. They are thriving in these moist conditions, as is the moss.
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen so much rich green moss. If you look carefully at the second picture in the top row, you will see that the moss is even growing among the Hens and Chicks.
We also have interesting mushrooms.
The one above is small. Daylily foliage is behind it.
I’ve been a Fast and Furious gardener lately. Anything done outdoors, including taking pictures, is done quickly in short bursts. When it’s not raining that is. I have been waiting for a break to do some planting, dividing…
This is a time for gathering seeds, cuttings… thoughts.
Thoughts that are scattered as seeds going in several different directions.
Some to plant, some to share.
Some to let nature take it’s own course.
Which plants are worthy of my efforts?
Will I do geranium cuttings again?
Perhaps not as many as last year though. I want to save room for growing the plants on my wish list. Hmmm…Where did I put that list?
I think I’ll skip the Sweet Potato Vine cuttings. They took so long to spread once planted outside and required frequent watering inside all Winter.
Maybe I’ll take a few Coleus cuttings. That should be easy.
4 O’ Clocks filled in some bare spots nicely, however, I mostly saw the opened flowers only as I was leaving for work. Mostly I saw them closed.
I’m taking notes and making lists. Getting back into focus.
Back to the day to day…
til my next break.
I am linking up with Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.
Nicole says:
That’s some pretty good blah blah blah right there! Very entertaining and well put together.
Donna says:
You really have a full story here. So many interesting visitors and beautiful photographs. I really enjoyed the moss images and the mushrooms. Pretty soon we will be looking like that having rain every single day. That is if the snow holds off. Some areas it was predicted.
Indie says:
Love the moss and mushrooms, and LOVE that seed pic! Sometimes we just need to take a breather and enjoy the garden without our to do list!
I am one of those that loves fall, but it’s a little different down south where fall means we can go outside as opposed to staying inside with our air conditioners!
Chris says:
Indie, Yes that’s so true – it depends where you live when it comes to Fall
Cathy says:
This is an incredibly beautiful place to visit today! Everything here is just breathtaking! Thank you!
One says:
Ooohhh, ahhhh…. gorgeous photos. The tiny mushroom is uniquely beautiful. I have yet to come across one like that.
Karin/Southern Meadows says:
I really like all those big rocks in your garden! And the moss and mushrooms. Ironically, I took some photos of mushrooms this weekend. They have started popping up since we got some rain about a week ago.
Island Threads says:
I loved your rambling thought and beautiful photos, the midges are still around here so though Saturday was a perfect garden day everyone was inside, the midges are usually gone by mid September ……. really love the last bee photo, Frances
The Sage Butterfly says:
I enjoyed this post very much. Your photos of the butterflies and moss are so lovely. Although you meant to have a nice break, it was a great break for me as well. Thanks!
Carolyn @ Carolyn's Shade Gardens says:
Although I haven’t done it, I think that instead of cuttings you dig up the sweet potato vine tuber and save it like a dahlia or similar plant. Then you wouldn’t use precious space.
GirlSprout says:
All the mosaics are lovely. Wow, the moss looks spectacular. Great post!
Linnie W says:
That first little mushroom looks nothing like mushroom. It reminds me of some Victorian curtain hold-backs I used to have in my antique shop. Or maybe THEY were made from mushrooms… Very fun post, captured the gardener in autumn!
Vee says:
With a garden as lovely as yours, I’m sure that you are not wishing to say goodbye any time soon. I had decided that I will not try to hold onto my flowers any longer. Not sure, though. I may cover them on Thursday’s hard freeze and hope. The weekend is supposed to be so warm. I’ve noticed the increase in mosquitoes and the decrease in fall colors. Perhaps that’ll improve in the next few weeks. I do envy you the monarchs.
Andrea says:
Wow, and you call that a blog break! How awesome all the photos are and the critters too. But most especially i love the moss mosaic and the mushrooms. I have been looking for mushrooms here lately but i found only very few and not strikingly lovely.
Bridget says:
That seed head is amazing…I thought it was some amazing insect. Love the mosiac of the moss covered rocks. I’m not so sure about loving the Fall either…I want to hold on to Summer.
Sheila says:
Great post. We had no monarchs in the garden this year. I hope they return next year, as they did to yours. Re: the mosquitoes. They were a huge problem in Maine when I was there in August – I’d never seen them so bad.
I can identify with losing focus as fall comes – but I certainly didn’t get that impression from you with your well-put-together post!
Nicole says:
I definitely agree with Sage Butterfly as I also enjoyed a nice break while reading this blog post! I wish I could click ‘like’ on many of the responses here.
Catharine Howard says:
I can find glorious insects and flowers all over Blotanical. But ohhhhhhhhhhhhh that moss!
Chris says:
I am certainly enjoying all of the supportive comments from everyone! I love all the feedback. The moss seems to be a favorite
Barbara says:
I really enjoyed this philosophical blog post, Chris! I read it to Jim, who is lying on the couch & he enjoyed it too, even without seeing the beautiful photos…
Elephant's Eye says:
Was an old post up about saving Pelargoniums wrapped in newspaper, bare root, kept cool, to hibernate.
alison@thisbloominglife says:
Oh my goodness. I bow done before you. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. Thank you so much for the cheeriness!
Cathy and Steve says:
Everything is so beautiful! I find your comment about Brilliant interesting because the bees have no interest in ours either. We have tons of honeybees and carpenter bees and assorted other winged things, and none hover anywhere near that clump of sedum. Your moss is gorgeous… and those ‘shrooms are very unusually, yet .. pretty. Great post for just wanting to write “blah blah blah” <>.
Stacy says:
I’ll echo the others in praise of the moss–it looks so luxuriant! I had to laugh, though, when you said it was growing in between the hens and chicks. I felt like singing that Sesame Street song–“which of these things is not like the others…”
Yael says:
You have such lovely photos. The mushrooms are very interesting and I love the milkweed coming out of it’s hull. I have got to get some of that next year.
Yael
Marguerite says:
So many mosquitos still at this time of year? that’s dreadful. It’s one of the things i like about fall where I live, the bugs have disapated with the cooler temperatures and you can finally go outside without being bitten to pieces.
Alistair says:
What a load of fantastic blah blah! and the pictures were to die for, was that first mushroom for real, amazing.
Barbie says:
Love the butterflies and the bees! Always love taking bug pictures myself! Thanks for sharing
Gabrielle/ flowerbulbcrazy says:
LOVING the photos- JEALOUS of the mossy rocks!
The first photo of milkweed- amazing how beautiful the flower clump is and how sweetly fragrant!! I spared a bunch of mine this year too- in select places.