Best September ever?

September has been an extremely busy month for us.  We had back to school for both girls, ballet for the Littlest Gardener, junior high cross country started for Sweet Pea, then Sweet Pea decided she also wanted to play soccer again, the Littlest Gardener's birthday, a visit from the in-laws, our anniversary and planning for Sweet Pea's upcoming 13th birthday on October 2nd.  I was beginning to feel some withdrawl from the garden.  We had a lot of wind and rain the last few days which made the garden a huge mess.  Looking at the front yard every time I went in and out of the house and not being able to do much in it was making me anxious to get my hands in the dirt.
Today I got to spend 2 1/2 hours cleaning, raking, planting, digging, sweeping and raking and was it ever great.  I was able to clean out the pond, the back deck and do a bit of cleaning in the front yard.  The sun was out with a light breeze, perfect for gardening. 
This is the first autumn we've gotten to enjoy our new front yard.  It has been so fun watching it change throughout the seasons.  I think even with the crazy busyness of life this month that I'm still enjoying the garden in the front more than I ever have since we moved in 12 1/2 years ago.

I've been starting to add some fall color to the planters.

 I normally wait to pull out the fall decorations until after Sweet Pea's birthday at the beginning of October, but I was too excited to see how it would look.

Dahlias always make me happy this time of year.  They just bloom and bloom.

I finally got the Littlest Gardener to hold still long enough to take her picture by our tallest Sunflower 'Mammoth'.  She was having fun riding her bike as fast as she could in circles in the driveway.

Kale 'Red Russian' growing quickly in the raised bed.

Black-eyed Susans are another September favorite.  The Dragonfly seems to like them too.

I was surprised to find all these flowers on 'Julia Child'.

Aster 'Professor Kippenburg'

Salvia 'Black and Blue' just came up a few weeks ago and is now blooming.  I was quite surprised to see it.

Re-do of a wine barrel planter on the driveway.  There is also a Barberry behind the Carex 'Prairie Fire'.

 For some reason I'm drawn to this angle and keep taking pictures of it.  I'm always surprised by how much is still blooming in September.  This year with all the new garden space there's more than ever.

Other than a few windy and rainy days in the last week, we've had absolutely gorgeous weather.  Hopefully it will hold for awhile longer so that I'll be able to do more work out in the yard soon.

All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress.