Sunday's Hodge Podge

I decided not to bring as many plants inside as last year.  I can usually get parsley, sage and thyme from the garden well into December.  The rosemary plants come inside.  The bay tree on the left is smaller than it was last year because most of it died back when we first put it outside.  Now, I'll have more room to start some seeds inside this spring.  Since we were getting our kitchen remodeled last year, I didn't plant any seeds inside.  I haven't been doing a good job keeping my African violets watered.  Some will survive, but others don't look so good.  'Naomi' holiday cactus is beginning its show.

See?

The lantana plants didn't survive the 20s, but some of them look kind of pretty still.

This butterfly milkweed is doing way better than any I have or have had.  Look at all those seedpods!

There is a little geranium bloom under the leaves.

The grape hyacinths have sent up some growth, like they do sometimes.  These are intermingling with sedum, coreopsis, geraniums, and leaves.

Rose moss plants don't come up until the late spring.  I'm not sure if it's because they prefer warmer weather, but these are still blooming.

These lavender plants have a lot of blooms.  I dried some earlier this summer.  These are too far along to dry.

I forgot what kind of rudbeckias these are.  They survived last winter, even though I bought them as annuals.

The 'Mongolian Skies' skullcap leaves, blooms, and seed pods are looking pretty.  I think that's fluff from the butterfly milkweed on the bloom.

Only one of the larger repeat blooming iris in the front yard bed had a second bloom.  Three of the smaller ones had blooms in the curb bed.  This one didn't even start to open until Friday, and was fully opened Sunday.

Love lies bleeding looks kind of cool, even when not alive.

After taking some photos, I sat down outside for a bit. When I noticed how pretty the sky and fall foliage looked, I turned the camera back on.

This is a sweet potato vine the nursery we got it from over 10 years ago said was an annual.

There is beauty in nature no matter what the season is.  My favorite seasons are still spring and summer, though.  Do you have a favorite season?

Tuesday is supposed to be the last day in the 70s, probably until spring.  I plan to get off work an hour early.  I think supper will be take out.  I am determined not to let anything or anyone interrupt my time outside, including the neighbor kids who have been coming over every time I'm outside.   One boy has been arguing with me because I won't let him tromp into my flower beds or veggie garden to catch a garter snake.  If they come over after school, I plan to be assertive and tell them I don't have time to visit.   I am having some friends over for a monthly Bible study in the evening, so I made an apple dessert this evening, and will get the kitchen floor scrubbed in the morning, so that I can be outside as long as possible in the afternoon.