Autumn in My Garden - Circus Rose

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Out in the yard shooting photos, playing with camera settings.  Sometimes I get a shot that just intrigues me:  No flash; sunny blue sky overhead; haven't a clue why it turned out this way.  But I'm glad it did.

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

Sunset - Fire in the Sky

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Now, I thought this photo was nice enough.

I put my camera away and went in the house to fix dinner, and ...

... just happened to see the glow of this when passing by a window.

Kinda nice.

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

Ruby Hips

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Got RED?

It's time for Ruby Tuesday over at Work of the Poet where Mary hosts photographers showing off their ruby red photos of the week. Mary has posted a particularly beautiful photo this week.  Take a look. 

 

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

Sun Setting Behind Pewetole Island

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I meant to post this over a month ago.  The sun has moved since I took this photo and now sets quite to the left of the distant rock.  Autumn sliding into Winter ...

Me trying to get my groove back.

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

Autumn in My Garden - Water Everywhere

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Early morning:  I love how water droplets cling to the serrated edges of rose leaves.

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

Autumn in My Garden - Shadowplay in Penstemon

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"Mom, how're you doing?"

"Well, I haven't put up a blog post in about a month..."

"Actually, it's been exactly 35 days."

"Wow, you keep track?"

"Yes.  So, how're you doing?"

We had a wonderful, long conversation, but the upshot is:  Nothing like a call from one of your kids to remind you that you've been remiss in the blogging arena.

Besides missing visiting my favorite bloggers, I've missed taking photos for Shadow Shot Sunday. So between bouts of rain the other day, the sun shone and illuminated the stamens inside these penstemon blossoms and I was able to take my first SSS shots in quite a while.

Shadow Shot Sunday lives on Tracy's blog, Hey Harriet.  Take a look each Sunday for great shadow photos from all over the place.


PS - Thanks, Miles!

PPS - Tracy, I'll link to you as soon as Mr. Linky wakes up. ;)

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

Autumn in my Garden - Honorine Jobert Anemone

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I used to have a lot more stands of these beautiful white blooms in my garden, but this year I found only two. I don't know if they just aren't as hardy as the pink ones are, or if I've inadvertently pulled them out.

Whatever has happened, I'm going to mark this one to ensure it returns next year.

After several days of sun, it got really hot inland and the fog bank slammed into the coast with such force it rattled the windows.

Not really, but you get the metaphor.  I hope.

Fall is well and truly underway.  Time to do a last(?) mowing of the grass, prune some branches back, fix the path lights, tidy up the greenhouse and the vegetable garden.  I'm going to plant fava bean seeds to winter over and feed the soil.

The sun just came out.  Time to go outside.

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

Autumn 2010 in My Garden - Gold Mums

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Actually, these mums are still in pots awaiting planting into bigger pots that will grace the back deck for the fall season.  They look so pretty, all bunched together, that I can't resist the temptation to take a photo or two.

The bottom photo is copyrighted differently because it's going to go into my folder of photos to be made into note cards.

Someday.

When I have the time.

And the inclination.

Well, the inclination is there, so I think it must be the time.

Sigh.

Garden Notes:

We've been having several delicious autumn days of sun and relative warmth.  I can see the fog bank lurking a few hundred yards to the west.  We are, as my neighbor says, "in the smug zone".

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

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.