When in New Mexico, I was visiting the painter Paul Trachtman, you can see his work on this website. His studio is a wonderland of works–and objects. I took some pictures on this visit hoping to give a sense of the amazing energy of the studio.
It is 15 October and no frost so far here in southeastern South Dakota. I think leaving any of the house plants outside past this weekend will be tempting the chilling gods to come out and nip at the plants. I still have tomatoes producing new fruit… always such a wrench with the end of the season. The dahlias are still doing really well. But what greeted me most effusively (aside from the cats) when I returned home was the pink rose in the front of my house. It has five open roses on it.
I had a quick trip to New Mexico to spend time with friends and it turned out that the timing was perfect for gorgeous fall color. Here are few quick images…. more soon.
These are such late bloomers, it always surprises me that they get open at all. The kitties are NOT late bloomers –but Sidney and Martin Frobisher are all the way at the end of the post.
I don’t know which variety of aconitum this is. I have two bunches of this –the one that gets more sun is much taller –about 5 feet. The other one that is more protected is only about 3 feet tall and really seems unlikely to bloom this year.
I make fun of the gardening catalogues that have “dinner plate dahlias” with an obligatory picture holding the bloom next to a child’s face for scale. “Look! This bloom is as big as a head!” If you google that phrase you will see images that confirm this…. However, at my house, I think the dahlia blooms should be measured on the scale of a kitty head. Sorry this picture is a little blurry… but you can get the idea.
I think the above dahlia in this bed just west of the front fence won’t get all the way to full blooms–if they do, it will be really lovely with that red amaranth. These red dahlia are in an odd spot but they are so gorgeous.
When my mother was visiting she bought me two gorgeous potted chrysanthemums, one yellow and one a reddish burgundy. They are on my front step and so bright and cherry now that they are open. I haven’t decided where to put them in the ground, but that will need to happen very soon.
I keep thinking that pink rose is really done…. but there are still more buds coming. And below is Pretty, she is such a little sweetie with her soft paws and her little meow.
