Pumpkin Patch

Today I decided to harvest from the pumpkin patch.  The vines were withered and the leaves were brown and not offering any protection from the sun for the fruit. After the harvest I brought my treasure into the house and began my fall decorating. Pictures are above.

Now I just have to decide what design to save. The fact that only one pumpkin developed and grew and turned orange makes this an important decision. Which display to you like best?

Colorful flowers and a little visitor

The flowers,Mums, that I planted about 10 days ago are now filled with color. The colors reflect the colors in the umbrella. Just how I planned.  The days are showing signs of fall and the nights are cooler and sometimes quite breezy too. Walking in the mornings will soon warrant a jacket and then gloves will be sure to follow. We walk in the early morning, so a white jacket will be worn, along with a light. Not so much to help us see the sidewalk, but to help others, out that early, to see us. The path we take each day is a very sound and smooth sidewalk. Just have to make sure that no one steps off the sidewalk and into a place unknown that could cause a change in our plans, such as a fall.

The little visitor at our house this week is a small dog who belongs to our daughter's family. They are out of town this week so Patch came here to stay. She has done very well, although she is probably missing all the family she usually sees each day. We have learned that she wants to be where ever we are. She follows me about the house always. We have a very safe outside deck that has no escape route other than coming back into the house. We have left the screen open about eight inches, just enough to let her come in and out at her desire. She has spent a lot of time on the couch in the den. I put her blanket in a soft spot and she seems to like that. She wants me to sit by her and coach her to eat. We have established a routine here, hope she leaves that routine here and does not require that same attention when she goes home.

New Fall Flowers

I did find some Mums in three colors that match the new umbrella. Maroon, orange, and yellow. They have been planted in the pots on the deck. I will post pictures as soon as they become colorful. Right now the blossoms are tight and mostlly green.
 I received a gift today from a friend, a start of rubarb. I had some in a garden about 20 years ago and had mentioned to him that I would like to grow it again. So today when he came to brunch ( our Labor Day celebration) he had a white bag with some starts that he had dug up from his garden. It has been planted and watered well, I do hope it will like its new surroundings and grow well for us.

Fall

I know that we still have 3 more weeks of Summer, but today dawned with the promise of cooler weather. The weather report showes temperatures in the low 80's, quite a change from yesterday, the last day of August, a day that found gardners looking for shade. I have found a store that is having a sale on some fall flowers. I will go there today and get new plants for the 3 boxes on our deck. The Pansies have given us beauty for many months, but they are gone now. So, in a while, I will put in some new colorful plants to brighten up our deck. Maybe, I will pick out some that match the colors in our new umbrella.