"Begin the hours of this day slow"

Gardening and blogging time have been in short supply over the last few weeks.  My fall garden "to-do" list is still very long!  There isn't enough daylight at the end of my work days and the weekends have been full.  As we approach the end of October, night falls earlier and earlier each day.  Soon I will drive off to work just as the sun is rising and drive home in the dark.   I'll miss the late fall afternoons with the sun shining through the trees and casting long shadows on the grass.

 My quick morning walk through the garden to take in the color of the fall bloomers is 

precious when the daylight hours are short.

And when I encounter a  visiting Monarch, as I did this morning, it becomes even more precious.

O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow. 

from "October" by Robert Frost


Carolyn at This Grandmother's Garden has invited gardeners to join her in walking in the Autumn air and sharing what they see.  I'm linking up with her today - please click over and enjoy the Autumn beauty.

"When God sorts out the weather and sends rain"

It is no use to grumble and complain; It's just as cheap and easy to rejoice; 

When God sorts out the weather and sends rain - Why, rain's my choice. 

James Whitcomb Riley

Rain is definitely my choice!  As I write this, the rain is falling and I'm rejoicing.  Yesterday I spent the afternoon planting some coreopsis and blanket flower in anticipation of today's rain.  It was at least 95 degrees and the gnats were relentless. The ground was dry at least a foot down.  But today I feel rewarded - and the forecast calls for more rain over the next two days. 

I always have plenty of pictures to download after a weekend working in the garden.  I'm often distracted from my work by something and have to run get the camera.  (Even though it's a small camera, it bothers me to carry it around with me in my pocket.)

The early morning sun seemed to be shining a spotlight on the verbena bonariensis.

The New England asters have burst into bloom and the mums are ready to.

I have perennial mistflower in abundance, but much of it looks ragged from powdery mildew and chewed leaves.  This one may be the only one that's blemish free - I reminds me of why I love it.

Next to the mistflower, the coleus has sprouted a bloom.  Normally I don't care for blooming coleus, but this one is pretty.  You can see that it's struggled with the dry conditions and poor soil where I have it planted.

This plant with the dainty pink bloom volunteered itself in my bed of impatiens.  Does anyone recognize it?  Is it a noxious weed in disguise?

The birdbath in  the birdbath garden is nearly hidden by the late-planted zinnias.  Tricolor Sedum and pentas are blooming, too, but the main attraction is the hot lips salvia.  The hummingbirds and bumble bees love it.  But even in the midst of the salvia, the hummingbird enjoys a drink from the feeder from time to time.

At the end of the birdbath garden, the fireworks clematis and snow fountains guara continue to bloom, though not as vigorously as they did earlier in the season.

With the rain the temperature has dropped.  I'm sitting by the open window listening to the rainfall, enjoying the cool air, and feeling thankful.