Happy Autumnal Equinox 2010

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I was going to post a photo of the full moon that I took at 6:30 this morning to welcome in Autumn, but I guess my camera is still a bit wonky (or maybe the user is) and they didn't come out well.

Did you see the full moon last night with Jupiter shadowing it all night long until dawn? It was stunning. A rare view.  Watch for it tonight if the skies are clear in your neighborhood.

I know many gardeners welcome signs of autumn; a time to gather in all the summer's bounty and preserve it for the colder months to come.  A time to finally stop weeding and put the garden to bed for the winter, unless, of course, you plant a winter garden.  A time to put an extra blanket on the bed, make soups and stews, get out those projects you've been wanting to do - hopefully you will have time now with the longer nights.

Lettuce, peas, fava beans, chard, kale all grow well in my garden come the cooler days of fall and I hope to be planting some of them this month.  Even potatoes overwinter here.  I guess I shouldn't grouse so much about not being able to grow tomatoes.

Do you plant a winter garden?

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Late Summer in my Garden - Sunflowers

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We've had sun, clouds, fog and 2 1/2 inches of rain in September.  A very early winter pattern usually not seen until late October.

In the meantime, my sunflowers, which got a very late start, have finally bloomed.

They are attracting a few honey bees, which is the reason I planted them. Honey bees have been in absentia this summer. Partly, I think, because of the very late spring and mostly wet, foggy summer.

Planting sunflowers helps to attract bees to yards and gardens.  Red poppies attract bees also, as do fall Asters and Sedum.

Do you have honey bees in your garden?

Garden Notes:

Tomorrow, Sept. 23rd is the full moon and autumnal equinox. A sunset-moonrise walk is planned. Hopefully photos will ensue.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Ruby Tuesday - Ruby Red Dahlia

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Dahlias spotted on a walk through town recently reminded me that it's time once again for Ruby Tuesday, hosted by Mary at Work of the Poet.

You're going to want to see all the other photos sporting red this week; maybe you'd even like to join in the fun and meet some interesting poeple.

Click here to see what it's all about.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Skywatch Friday - A Fogless Sunset

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Sunsets unobstructed by fog have been woefully lacking this summer, so even though this photo is a bit dark because I didn't think to get my camera (I was that entranced by the actual sun) until it was almost too late, here is my offering to Sky Watch Friday, because I actually experienced a full on, no-holds-barred sunset this evening.  And not a shred of fog around.  Whoo-hoo!

Visit Skywatch Friday to see more sky shots from all over the world.

If you look closely you can just see Venus on her nightly decent below the horion. 

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Green Dragonfly

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Taken on E Street in downtown Davis on the wall of a retail store, August 28, 2010

Check out the bull's eye mark on the head, and the gossamer golden wings.  Is this critter cool or what?

Research tells me, hopefully correctly, that this is a Common Green Darner Dragonfly.  I leave it to others more informed than I, to refute or corroborate.

I didn't have a tripod handy when I took this, so I braced my arm against the wall and hoped for the best.

Clicking on the photo will give you a larger, more detailed, image.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Shadow Shot Sunday - Reflections of an Island

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Pewetole Island, Trinidad Beach

Shadow or reflection?  I think it's both.

Take a look at the shadow shots that Tracy hosts on her blog Hey Harriet. 

Click here if you want to find out how to join in the fun.

 

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

(Late) Summer in my Garden (On the Beach) - Mimulus

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Mimulus, or Monkey Flower, Trinidad Beach

It isn't just the sunshine after weeks and weeks of foggy, gray days.  The sun has come out to play, yes, and we are delighted and oh so grateful, but there is something else going on:

A small shift, a fleeting earthy perfume, here and there a few falling alder leaves, the asters coming into full bloom, the swallows slipping quietly away when nobody was looking.  Winged ants.  I saw three of them yesterday.

Can you feel it?

Fall is coming.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Blue Damselfly

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Pink and blue go so well together, don't you think?

Happy, sunny days are here again!  After writing this post, and after enduring so many dreary days of endless fog, we've got sun!  And warmth!  Be still my heart.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Ruby Tuesday - Little Red Pump House

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This little pump house stands out amid the natural colors of trees and grasses on the edge of our small but exceedingly fair city.

Mary has more ruby red treats for you at Work of the Poet.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Shadow Shot Sunday - Spider Imitates Poppy

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It's been a struggle to bring you shadow shots these days. Shadows simply aren't happening in our fog-ridden climate at the moment. It makes me gloomy and cranky.

So I've pulled a photo out from a while back when the sun was shining and this gorgeous cameleon spider had turned yellow and was posturing for me to please pack up my camera and go back from whence I came, its raised legs looking quite like the stamens of the poppy.

I hope it's sunny in your garden.

Tracy has some fine shadow shots from photographers all over the world down under on her blog, Hey Harriet.  Go take a look.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.