A Long Fall...

No, I didn't trip...Post title refers to one of the most extended autumn seasons in recent memory.  Well, in my mind at least.   Aren't there years when just as we're about to enjoy the scarlets and golds of the landscape...POOF!..they're gone!  And seemingly overnight!

This year, I can't tell you how many days (weeks!), I was able to trek about town and amass tons of colorful photos!  Of course it's helped that we had a wonderful run of perfect weather.  Cool enough for photosynthesis to take effect yet warm enough for foliage to remain intact.  Oh, Glorious days!

 Neighbors' bright Ginkgos take my breath away every

time I leave and return home!  Please don't ask how many times I've pulled over for pics.

Even on the cloudiest days they provide sunshine!

 If you grow Japanese maples, this was their best year, wasn't it?!  I've added 3 new varieties to my garden this year....though just saplings, I can't wait for their 'show' next fall.

Leaf-peeping goes hand in hand with birding so don't forget to look up!  I actually heard this cute little White-Breasted Nuthatch before I saw him.

And you can't mistake the "Coo, coo, coo"s of a Mourning Dove...

I'm truly lucky to be 10 minutes away from this beautiful walking trail of the Raritan River.
I try to avoid peak crowd hours though and time it when the sun lights the landscape just so...

Maples usually turn to shades of red so this golden hue was a very unusual and very special find! 

As was this soft pink seedling...I'm sure due to heavy shade on woodland floor. 

 Not much to share in the way of garden blooms.

Seeds of  these butterfly weeds (Asclepias tuberosa) are just bursting open.  Hopefully, they'll land and take hold in a fertile spot...multiplying my collection.

Also of late interest are seed heads of Clematis terniflora, commonly called Autumn Clematis. 

A volunteer in my garden this year...maybe a trellis will be added at it's base.

Hope you enjoyed the Fall colors.

Thanks for visiting!  Until next time...

An extra hour...

Happy Daylight Savings Day!

My phone rang at 7am this morning. Caller ID: Mom. From California.

She'd totally forgotten to 'fall back' on the clock.  So, what the heck was she

doing up at 5am...?!

Heading out for her daily pre-dawn walk.  Good thing I'd been up for hours, reading.  Yep, besides our love of gardening, Mom and I have insomnia in common.

My absence here has not been deliberate.  I've tried numerous times to post but uploading photos with Blogger has been a pain!  Any friends out there retired their

Blogger account for something faster, better? 

There's so many more options now, besides Wordpress.  I will need to do a little research...

One thing I will not complain about is the beautiful indian summer

we've had these past weeks in NJ.  Summer blooms are still hanging in there.  I mean, look at this pot of geraniums, still setting buds into November!

Vibrant hues of fall foliage have been quite spectacular, as well!

How will you spend your extra hour of daylight?  Hopefully, I will finish my bulb planting, mulch, and tuck the garden in for the season.

If I could just stay awake til sunset....

Is it Fall....?!

Waking up with that nip in the air this morning sure felt like it!  Covering my petunias and tender annuals was a very smart move.

But, really, it IS only mid May.  I think we've been spoiled with the nice run of

warm temps and rain these past few weeks...

so life in the garden progressed that much sooner this year.  At least for me, here in central New Jersey.

Here I am at Longwood Gardens in mid April, and bulbs are already at peak bloom!

Being at the ready-set-go bell allowed me shots of a crowd-free landscape.

Of course I had to scramble here and there with a quick snap, snap, snap.

Breathtaking!  A whole grove of massive cherry trees!

I didn't mind that this couple beat me to this garden...

they sure added a touch of romance to this scene.

This image is kinda cool...

only because I used the wrong lens hood..lol!

Have you ever SEEN so many tulips in bloom?!

A feast for the senses that's for sure.

Wonder where my next excursion will take us...tune in to find out!

Thanks for stopping by, friends.



Winter's Last Kiss

I didn't mind waking up to this scene yesterday...
but, let's hope it really IS the last

hurrah from Old Man Winter.

An opportunity for some pretty pics, at least.

Too bad I couldn't get this little guy to face me.

With clouds clearing and sunshine by midday, branches were quickly bare, and streets cleared, so I ventured out.

For more photos, of course.

This common merganser was well camouflaged, save that flash of beak!

Same with the grey heron!

Though enjoying my new found hobby of birding, I can't help but be most anxious for that first pop of color in my garden: Hellebores!

Thanks for stopping by, and, don't forget to 'Spring forward' tomorrow, friends!

Wordless Wednesday...

...A perfect Fall day.

Wordless Wednesday...

Wordless Wednesday...

...A freak snowstorm in NJ~October 30, 2011