An unusual thing happened today.
I had some free time on my hands while at home. When that happens, instinct typically kicks in and I head directly to the garage where I put on my gloves and grab some combination of my trowel, spade and a large container for weeds. I then head out into the yard without any plans and just start weeding or planting or moving plants. All of this is done with reckless abandon until I realize I have run out of time or I pass out.
But today was different.
No trip to the garage.
No desire to do anything in the garden whatsoever.
I feel done for the year.
This feels unusual and I’m holding out hope that it is only temporary. Is it possible this is the new normal? Am I wearing down sooner in my old age? I’ll have to let it play out a few weeks longer before jumping to any conclusions.
I claim the right to change my mind in the near future without any ridicule from all of you. But at least let me have this today.
While hard laboring John is on temporary hiatus, shutterbug John is not. Fall is arguably the best season for bringing out the best in my garden so I am outside taking pictures on regular rotation. I can’t miss a thing.
After taking a series of photos today and then reviewing them I couldn’t simply just post them here without any commentary like I did last Friday. I owe you more than that. My desire to write hasn’t dwindled a bit either so fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your point of view) I have come up with a theme for today’s pics. That theme is what I’m proud of with each shot. Proud in terms of my gardening skills not my photography skills.
Enjoy.
Layers are good. It has taken a lot of time and experimentation but I’m happy with the results on this front.
Masses. Always good for the greatest impact. Especially in a wide open garden setting like mine.
Grasses make the garden literally shine in September and October.
“Foundation plantings” are boring and too neat. Glad I stayed away.
Protecting my precious tomatoes from the deer using ornamental grasses as fencing has been fun and rewarding.
Plants like Sneezeweed, which tend to topple easily, are best planted among, you guessed it, ornamental grasses. The grasses provide support and their see-through quality allows for a cool display.
There is still nothing better than Panicum ‘Northwind’. She still holds the title as queen of the grasses.
QOTD: Are you still performing hard labor in your garden?
Hi.
Is there anything I can do about your posts blacking out, please? It happens when I follow the email link. I cannot read the post completely and have to reload the page.
I am enjoying the story of your garden but this is really irritating.
Thanks
Carol
it happened to me too – download the photos first, then it seems to work
Will def give it a shot Kate. Thank you!
I use an RSS feed to get here, and it’s like that for me too. It grays out and the “subscribe” box comes up. I have to reload to read the post. Perhaps if the subscription invitation is disabled, John… ?
All that aside, this is definitely a hard-labor time of year, best planting time for New England, and best time to find discounted plants. I’m beginning to feel the exhaustion, same as you. Thank goodness for winter. And omigosh your garden looks splendid.
Definitely on it Kate. So sorry for the inconvenience!!
Hi Carol – working to disable the pop-up as we speak. My apologies for this mess!
Your obedient plant (taking the easy way out with the English name instead of the Latin) looks so fresh and crisp. I don’t think I was aware it was a fall bloomer instead of in the summer. So glad your grasses as fencing strategy worked out and you’ve enjoyed your harvest of tomatoes.
I was a glutton for punishment today and transplanted 2 variegated red twig dogwoods from containers into the ground. They looked peaked and struggling all summer and annoyed me every time I looked at them. The holes took some serious digging because the root balls were surprising big. I was plum tuckered after that .
John, your garden really is especially fabulous in the fall! And your photos are beautiful! I love your using the grasses to protect the tomatoes from the deer. To answer your question, here in northern NJ we have been slowing down regarding the labor in the garden. It’s such a relief not to have to water all of the outdoor planters after work every night now that it has cooled down a bit. Until now, we’ve been in near drought conditions, but the asters and mums are doing very well and are starting to bloom.
Thank you Clare! So true with the containers. The watering becomes such an effort that I’m considering abandoning containers next year. Have I asked you already where in Northern NJ? I’m originally from Midland Park.