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Friday, September 24, 2010

Summer Memories

Summer slipped away while we were in Chicago. The weather was unseasonally warm there, but we arrived home to cold rain, a sure sign that fall has arrived. We are about to put away the tables, chairs, and water feature until next year. A few flowers are still blooming and will do so till the first frost, but it will soon be time to bring in the plants that I like to overwinter in the garage. Before we left, we took a few photos, just to savor in the days ahead.

This little flower always reminds me of Mom Shaw. She called it the pin cushion flower, but it's "real" name is Scabiosa. The Gerbera daisy that she bought me years ago and has survived many winters in our garage didn't bloom this year. I was just happy that it had leaves and made it though the cold week that killed many of its companions. Maybe it'll bloom next year?

This past summer will always be the "Time of the Very Blue Hydrangeas". For some reason the hydrangeas were the bluest they've ever been. Would you believe they started out pink ten years ago? Thanks to all the pine trees, we have very acidic soil which turned them blue almost right away, but this year they outdid themselves.

We also had a few flowers on the lacecap hydrangea that's in the front yard. It would probably bloom better if it got a little more sun. But, hey, this is Seattle, right?

Even this little one, my retirement "rocket" hydrangea, finally after 3 years had flowers that gradually became more blue as the days went by.

No, this isn't in our garden. It was blooming just outside the fence at the hotel in Roseburg, Oregon, and intrigued me. Sitting close by our computer desk is a vase of dried flowers, and right among them is this same "flower" dyed red! I have no idea what it is, perhaps a type of grass that in its natural state spelled
F-A-L-L. It's here full blown which means winter isn't far behind. Time marches on, doesn't it?

12 comments:

Lynn said...

I really enjoyed seeing all the pics of your hydrangeas. I'm not much of a gardener. I try but don't have a lot of luck so it's nice to see the fruits of others' labours.

Susan Elliott said...

I'm pretty sure that the last picture is a teasel...they used to use them to raise the nap on textiles...kind of like that barbed thing they sell in needlework shops now...you should have picked one and put it in your sewing basket!! Anyway, check out teasel and see if that's it...

Lynn said...

I love hydrangeas, especially blue ones!

Ele said...

Summer memories, also here in Bavaria...last week was so bright and sunny, like summerdays in August. Since this night autumn is really here, with clouds and raining weather.
These blue hydrangeas are so beautiful.

Have a nice weekend Judy and take care

Gabriele

Janet said...

Your hydrangeas are beautiful! I've tried two different types in two places in our gardens. They just don't make it past one season.

Linda Vincent said...

Lovely photos Judy....and I really like your blog header.
This has been the summer of hydrangeas for me too; I have bought a few more varieties and have pressed hundreds of them!!

I've been catching up on your blog...still smiling over the hen photos :-)

Barbara C said...

The photo in your header also announces the arrival of Fall. The combination of the gold leaves and the purple berries is just gorgeous.

Kathy Raker said...

Judy, Thanks for sharing your lovely flowers. I enjoy fall but hate to see it come, because I know the long cold winter isn't far behind. What's worse is the fact that I wish winter would fly by so fast; therefore because of winter I feel like I'm wishing my life away. How sad is that.....

Micki said...

The blue flowers are spectacular!
Micki

Linda said...

Love all the blues...I have a couple pincushion flowers and I love them...they bloom so much of the year...I think summer has arrived because it was 111 today...it wasn't that hot all summer!

Anonymous said...

It is so funny. You are putting away your porch furniture and we are getting ours ready for use.

Steve brought the big hammock down from the attic. It had been up there several years because we didn't have room for it on the porch.

My table and chairs were beginning to be rusty and we NEVER ate outside. So we got rid of the table, repainted the chairs and donated two and now we have room for the hammock.

Steve and I gave it a good washdown today and in a couple of days when it is dry --- hello hammock and book!

hakucho said...

Your hydrangeas are absolutely gorgeous!! You must have a green thumb :)
I don't think I have ever seen a pincushion flower before...very interesting!