Is it really November?

After record setting rainfall on Monday we've been spoiled with springlike weather since.  It's currently 70 degrees out with blue skies, just beautiful.  I was able to get some more clean up done today, although the bulbs still haven't been planted, and I'm already thinking about what I want to do in spring.  Hopefully when it's spring those very bulbs that are still waiting to be planted will be blooming. 
For much of the summer I felt like I'd lost interest in gardening.  This summer was probably the least I've gotten done in years.  I'm not sure if it was the weather or just a phase I was going through.  But, I already feel that excitement that I usually have for gardening returning, and days like today really help allow me to make up for lost time.
Look what I found blooming today:

 Salvia 'Golden Delicious' which is an annual here is finally blooming now that it's November.

 Hardy fuchsias are still blooming very nicely.  It's difficult to see in this picture, but the Water Hawthorn is blooming in the pond now.

 My newish Hydrangea 'Limelight' still has several fresh flowers.

 One of the new Daylilies which I didn't expect to see flowers from until next year has thrown up a bud.

 Lewisia has a new flower.

 Rose 'Kimberlina' has lots of buds, I wonder how many will get to bloom?

 A Hollyhock in November is very unusual.  I found this one when I was picking a couple of pears nearby.

Cosmos and Rose 'Lady Emma Hamilton' are blooming quite a bit even though the area they are in has gotten quite shady now.

Did anyone else notice how beautiful the moon was early this morning?  I wish I would've tried to get a picture of it.  It was followed by a beautiful gold sunrise.  I wish every November day could be this nice!

Fertilizer Friday - September 10th.

I haven't had a chance to join Tootise for Fertilizer Friday in weeks.  So, even though it's later in the day I still wanted to join in.  I thought once school started I would have lots of free time, instead it's busier than ever.  This past week has been busy getting ready for the Littlest Gardener's birthday.  She will be turning 4 on September 12th.  It's amazing how fast time really does fly.  She has big plans for a Little Mermaid party and so we've been busy getting decorations, baking cupcakes and planning out her party.  And part of getting ready was finally getting plants in the ground that have been sitting in the front yard for weeks.  And so as I'm planting things I notice that I better get some weeds pulled.  While weeding I notice a bit of pruning I need to do.  So the pruning starts, and then I think while I'm walking around with the pruners I should cut some seedheads from the Veronica that I want to save seed from.  I then had to avert my eyes from anything else that might cause me to get sidetracked again.

These Asters caught me by surprise.  I had planted them last fall and forgot all about them until I noticed them blooming.

Agastache 'Apricot Sunrise' was one of the plants that had been sitting on the front grass for weeks.  I planted it near some Monarda and Echinacea.  This variety smells so good.

I think this will be 'Gertrude Jekyll's' last bloom this year.  I hope next year will be a better year for it.  Many roses really had a rough summer with blackspot.

The Abelias are covered in flowers and the hummingbirds are all over it.

Campanula 'Pantaloons' is on another round of blooms.

This was probably my biggest surprise of the year.  I thought that this Salvia 'Black and Blue' had died over winter, then it started sending up a few leaves.  Then nothing more until the last couple of weeks when it really took off growing.

Rose 'Julia Child' did so well this summer.  Not bothered by disease and bloomed a lot even in part shade.

One of my new Hydrangeas.  I've heard so many good things about 'Limelight' that I made a spot for it in my backyard.

Fuchsia magellanica 'Aurea' is so pretty in a shady area.  I've noticed that hardy Fuchsias are having a great year.  They are all huge and covered in flowers.

Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphiltica) just started to bloom.

Zucchini 'Jackpot' has been producing pretty well.  These are a bush type and take up far less room.

The big talk amongst many gardeners around here is, "Will the tomatoes ever ripen?"  It seems to be a big topic of conversation since most people have not had one ripe tomato other than grape or cherry tomatoes, which are also very slow.  This is the first year that we haven't been eating them for at least several weeks by now.  Many years we have so many they start rotting on the vine.

And the birthday girl herself, the Littlest Gardener posing in the backyard.  She has already helped to choose Daffodil and Tulip bulbs to plant this fall.

To see what is blooming in other gardeners gardens now visit Tootsie Time.

The Pond in August.

First I wanted to thank everyone who stopped by to comment on my last post.  We went on a vacation to Southern California about a week ago and the sun and the beach were relaxing and made me excited to get back in the garden again.  I did love seeing the gardens there and was surprised at how many plants I recognized after seeing them on many blogs that I follow.   I took quite a few pictures at the Mission San Juan Capistrano and will share them on another post. 
When we returned home the temperature was up in the 90's so it was a little hot to garden, but while I watered I saw how things were doing and realized that a weed that used to appear in one area of my yard seems to be taking over everywhere.  After doing some research I found that it's called Oxalis corniculata.  My Mom told me to try plain old vinegar on it.  Has anyone tried this?
I also realized I hadn't taken any pictures of the pond this month and thought I share them in this post.

Water Lily 'Charles de Meurville' has it's first bloom of the year!  The water lilies have really been slow this year and I'm beginning to think they may be done for the season already.

The girls were playing behind the pond while I watered.  Sweet Pea made them crowns of ferns and Hosta leaves to wear.

Fuchsia magellanica is blooming like crazy and has spread up towards the waterfall.

Turtlehead (Chelone) is a little past it's prime, but I thought I'd take some pictures anyway.

Clematis 'Ville de Lyon' is still blooming, although the flowers are much smaller.

Hydrangea 'Limelight' was added right before we went away and dried out a bit, but it looks like it'll be fine.

Bugbane (Actaea racemosa) was moved again earlier this year and seems to like it's new spot behind the pond.

This view is similar to the one at the bottom of my blog.  I did a lot changing since then.  The flowers that were here before didn't bloom until the end of summer leaving not much of interest the rest of the year.  I'm hoping the Japanese Blood Grass will keep filling in between the Heucheras.

I'm hoping to get out and do some cleanup on the front yard this weekend and am looking forward to going plant shopping soon.