"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

The pond and path garden in Ocotber.

October is off to a rainy start, but it's hard to complain after the beautiful September we had.  I always forget how much I enjoy fall.  Here the leaves haven't really started turning yet, but it has cooled down quite a bit.  This is the time of year I like to move things around (although even in the hottest parts of summer I will still dig up and move plants).  This is also a good time of year to find some good plant sales.  One nursery near us had one gallon perennials for $2!
These pictures were taken yesterday while the sun was out. 

 Now that the pine needles have been scooped from the pond it looks much prettier.  There are still the occasional Water Lily blooms.

 The Fuchsia magellanica is still going strong.

 The apple tree behind the pond is just loaded with apples this year.  I've used some for baking and they have also been nice and juicy to eat off the tree.  This is the first year the apples haven't been full of worms.  I never spray the tree, but decided to try the sticky traps this year and it seems they have worked.  The trap has a hormone that attracts the bad bugs and they stick and can't go lay eggs in the blossoms.  I hung it in about February and left it there all summer.

 The shed garden is kind of a mess.  Guess I need to do a little rearranging here for late summer and fall interest.

 The geraniums on the path have all been cut back.  Pine needles are tangled in everything.  I've been raking and raking and filling the yard waste bin.  At least you can walk down the path now.

 I've been working in this corner recently.  To the right I finally took out the Hydrangea that seemed to look worse each year.  Two blooms was all it had this year and it was mostly sticks.  In it's place is a Leucothoe 'Rainbow'.  It is evergreen and has pretty variegated leaves.  It's fairly small now and difficult to see in this picture.  On the left I moved the Corylopsis 'Buttercup' out from under the Abelia into the open space left by the Currant bush.  The Sawfly Larvae really did major damage on the Currant bush, most of it was dead.  The Corylopsis needed more space and I like how it looks much better than the Currant anyway.

 The Oakleaf Hydrangea at the beginning of the path is having it's best year ever.  It's just so pretty and covered in flowers.  It probably took about 5 years for it to really grow enough to put on a show.  I'm so glad I was patient with it.

I think the garden is appreciating the rain that's been falling all morning.  I'm hoping it will take a break though for awhile since Sweet Pea has a cross country meet to go to in the afternoon.  The kids never seem to mind going to soccer and other outdoor practices in the rain, it's mostly us wimpy parents that complain about standing outside and getting cold and wet. 
All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress. Pin It

39 comments:

  1. Jesień to czas wycinania, wykopywania, przesadzania, sadzenia roślin,grabienia ciągle spadających liści. Tyle pracy, ale miłej, trzeba włożyć, aby ogród wiosną wyglądał pięknie. :-). Pozdrawiam

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  2. Oh, how often I've wished you could come to Tulsa when I get moved and help me start a new pond! I just love yours. And I know I'll miss having one. Just not so confident I can do it by myself.
    Brenda

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  3. I love the fall plant sales, and I already miss September too. PS: Your garden looks great this time of year! That's a plus.

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  4. I absolutely love your garden. Whether June or October, there are great colors and such interesting features.

    Our beds here are full. I hardly have room to place the division that are necessary for our sedum and hosta. I had to pass on the nursery "specials" that tempted me this year...

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  5. Hi,

    Lovely update, you have so much going on and so many things to look at!

    There are so many jobs to do at this time of year; more so for me as I've put off doing a lot of jobs for months whilst I was busy and now I seem to have something to do each day and then find more!

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  7. Looks great. I always have to be careful at those 2 dollar sales.....I'll buy a lot and forget about how much I'm spending.

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  8. I love your Fuchsia magellanica, it's ablaze with blooms still! October is off to a wet start, even we've had 2 inches already, but I know the plants are happy for it. Your apple tree looks like it's doing great. We tried sticky traps for about a week here, and then I saw the tail feathers of a Junco stuck to the board! I was horrified, so I took the trap down. I still feel bad for that poor little bird. I hope his tail grew back!

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  9. It is always a pleasure to walk around your gardens. Everything looks wonderful. I love your little shed and it's garden too.

    Have a lovely autumn ~ FlowerLady

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  10. Catherine,

    Your garden always looks so inviting, like come take a stroll with me! I have those areas too that look like I need to get in there and redo. I have so many things I want to fix but I may not have time before the snow flies.

    Eileen

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  11. How lovely your garden is looking in the early Autumn! The atmosphere comes across so well from your photographs, as well as the interest of all the different plants. I hope your Leucothoe 'Rainbow' grows well - I haven't seen one of those for ages!

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  12. Hi Catherine,
    I enjoyed walking down your path with you. Your pond, path, and plants look great to me.

    We're having warmer and dryer than normal weather. I hope we get some rain soon.

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  13. Wimpy parents indeed. I'd be complaining too standing out in the rain but the kiddos will surely remember their moms and dads being there cheering them on. Enjoyed the garden walk. I've had my leucothoe for a few years and I tell you it has struggled so much. That's why I moved it. I'm interested in seeing how ours do. Your plants seem to do so much better in that nice plant friendly climate versus here with our droughty summers and all.

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  14. Thanks for the wander through. Everything looks so green an lush. Your garden is very peaceful.

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  15. With the plants you got there, i guess your hands will be very full when autumn arrives. I can imagine it when you said the path can now be used, so you got lots of trimmings from there. But i love your pond, if it is here it will be attracting lots of dragonflies, damselflies and frogs.

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  16. Your garden and your pond are still looking so good. I am missing those warm, dry days we had in September too. My oakleaf hydrangea is only a year old, I've been wondering how long it will be before it starts to look good. I haven't bought anything at the local sales, but I did buy some new plants online. And I still have so much that I bought over the summer and haven't planted yet.

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  17. Lovely fall garden. The pond is stunning and that hydrangea is a keeper. I am so jealous of all your pine needles. So wonderful to use as a mulch...

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  18. I always enjoy seeing your pond Catherine. The fuchsia is gorgeous draped over it. The leaves are just starting to change here ~ I hope fall lasts a long time this year. I would love to stumble across a $2.00 perennial sale! I'd probably go crazy. Most of the greenhouses here are having sales but only percentages off. I haven't really been out shopping if you can believe it. I do need go on a bulb run tho!
    Hope the weather cleared so you didn't have to stand in the rain! I would be a wimp about that too.

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  19. What kind of apple tree do you have? I'm thinking of acquiring one. I love fall nursery sales! Funny, I've been so focused on interior chores that I haven't been out and about to enjoy what's left of the gardens. You've inspired me. Now I need some sunshine :) Cheers, Jenni

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  20. I always enjoy visiting your garden, it's so beautiful and serene. Your beautiful shed has inspired me! We painted ours blue this summer (was pale yellow before) and I really love looking it at. :)

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  21. Witam ,,,jestem zauroczona oczkiem ,jest takie piękne ,naturalne .Będę podglądać ...bo jest co....pozdrawiam ....

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  22. You're garden is idyllic! I'd love to just stroll around it and take everything in.

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  23. I enjoy touring your garden, it is always a treat. I am especially fond of your pond. It is so lush and full of life.

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  24. Wish I could take a stroll through your garden path. It looks so peaceful in the back. Pretty blooms. I just love that little garden shed. It is so cute.

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  25. They plantings around the pond look so pretty Catherine. I love the shimmering water on the pond. Your Fuchsia always blooms so prettily. I have been in a garden moving mode also and enjoying this sunny warm few days we are having.You all have a wonderful weekend.

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  26. What a lovely blog you have. Love the birds in the garden as well.
    Have a great weekend.
    Gr. Marijke

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  27. I suppose we can learn something from the kids. I for one need to stop bickering about the rain. Actually I'm not bickering as much as I'm just not interested in puttering in the rain. Today looks to be dry though so who knows? Your garden still looks fabulous, Catherine. That hardy fuchsia is amazing and the oak leaf hydrangea is outstanding.

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  28. What a gorgeous garden - the pond is so beautiful, and congratulations on the Oakleaf Hydrangea. Worth the wait!

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  29. Catherine I love the post everything is sooooo pretty.

    Thanks for sharing the apple tree tip because in the future I'd like to have a few mini apple trees and don't want to spray.

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  30. Your pond is looking great, the splash of color with the fuchsias is a nice addition.
    Had to pull out an hydrangea also mine hasn't flowered for at least 3years.
    Your property looks sooo large and spectacular. Love all of it !

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  31. Nice to see your garden. Everything is looking great. I'm jealous of the fuchsias I keep seeing.
    We have some things yet to move around, need to get to that.

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  32. Your garden looks wonderful, especially the pond!! I finally put in a pond but it's really teeny and was designed to attract frogs. I also grow Rainbow leucothoe. If yours gets ratty, just cut it back hard in the spring and it will bounce right back. :o)

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  33. Lovely gardens, just lovely. Your pathway is so inviting and I love the corner bed with that giant fern in the back.
    I am glad you said it takes about five years for the Oakleaf Hydrangea to really put on a show, mine are still small and not too floriferous. I will wait...though I do think mine might need more sun...hmmmm move or not move?

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  34. Beautiful photos, looks quite summery still compared to my neck of the woods. Kelli

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  35. I always enjoy visiting your garden like this. I think it looks great no matter what time of year we have. Your october is rainy, our October is filled with frost depending on really cold nights. We don´t want that in October!!! I hope it'll change back to normal again this week and that the frostnights wont show again until December as normal.

    I read every post but I haven´t had much time to comment lately / Hugs from gittan

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  36. I know where to go when I was to see the greatest pond. It always looks so good no matter what the season. We are turning cold now and will be shutting down everything. I have to bring my fish in pretty soon.

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  37. Your photos are absolutely stunning!! I'm SO glad we've crossed paths, via BlogFrog. I couldn't find a way to join this blog (?), but I hope to visit often. Great job on your blog!

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