December in the West Front Yard

We've had a mild fall so far, but I have not been able to garden much, due to muscle strain in my lower back.  I started physical therapy yesterday, so hopefully I will be fully healed for spring gardening.  Tuesday, the day I saw my PA, one of the days my pain was what I called 8 out of 10, at almost supper time, I looked outside, and loved the way the light was illuminating parts of the yard.  Heidi ran over, hoping we were heading out, so I picked up my camera, and went out with her.  Since I haven't posted in awhile, I decided to focus on the west front yard.

I started out taking a number of photos with wider views so I can put a more current one as my header photo.  I always try to include Heidi and the fire hydrant.

I am enjoying the fall colors on the plants.

This switchgrass is 'Heavy Metal'.  We'll head to the east to see the rest of the area in front of the fence.  I am keeping the different "rabbit barriers" down, hoping they stay put through the winter.

The brown grass on the left is little bluestem.  The tall plants on the right are Riddel's goldenrod.

Here's a closer view of the goldenrod.

The bushy plants on the right are asters.

Here's a longer view back to the west.

Now, we are heading into the area on the other side of the fence.

I look forward to seeing the gray headed coneflowers and other tall plants stick up through the snow this winter.

Turning to the east, wild quinine is one of my favorite plants. 

Looking back to the west and southish, the path is next to the gray headed coneflower that has green at the base.  The plant in front leaning to the left is zig zag goldenrod.  I am pleased that it is spreading a bit.

This is the view a few steps to the west on the path.

I used to not like grasses in my flower beds, but am having fun discovering different grasses, mostly native ones.  Little bluestem, which I already showed in front of the fence, is one of my favorites.

The strawberries under the bench grew pretty well this summer, providing some nice sized berries in June.

My eyes were drawn to this gray headed coneflower bloom, performing during one of the last of the mild fall days.

I'll close with a view from the porch.

We had a good Thanksgiving at our house with our daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and two grandsons.  My parents came over for awhile, too, but had to leave before it got dark out.  We have Larry's side figured out for when we are getting together for Christmas, so things are falling into place.  Now, we need to figure out what to get everyone for Christmas.  I am looking forward to the end of the month, when the days will start getting longer.

I haven't been reading many blogs.  Using my time well is challenging for me.  Sometimes I think I may give up blogging, but I'm not ready to make a decision. Maybe I will find a way to budget my time so that I am able to keep up with all the things I'd like to.  I have been sorting through books and other items in the house and giving them away in order to have less clutter.  Oh, and I did take some to a local used bookstore and was given good credit for the ones they wanted.  I left the rest for them to put outside their door to give away.  I didn't realize the books they have out there are the ones they didn't want to sell when folks took their books there.

Well, I hope you have a good Christmas, in case I don't get another post in before then.