So tired of summer

I have abandoned fall planting of anything because I am just so sick of the yard by September that I fail to provide the care fall-planted plants need.

In the spring, when I see all the tulips, hyacinth, snow drops, etc. in the yards of others, I think I will plant some come fall. But I don't. The only fall planting I foresee is some garlic I purchased at a farmers market, expressly for planting in the strawberry bed. If I fail to do that, well, I can eat the garlic.

In past years, the common milkweed has been overrun by aphids, but not this summer. Those little critters did notice the new-to-this-year swamp milkweed in the rain garden, however. Interesting.

While the weeds are mostly under control, this one corner has been neglected. It continues to be neglected because some wasps/bees/something-that-stings have built a nest under the compost bin. I can (quickly!) dump kitchen scraps in the bin, but that is about all I dare try.

All the winterberry holly shrubs are loaded with fruit this year. If we get some snow, those red berries will look lovely against a white background. At least, until the robins strip the plants. But that is what the winterberry is there for.

There has been just enough rainfall to keep the lawn growing, but the forecast for this week is dry, dry, dry. It's all I can do to force myself to water the container plants. I welcome a hard frost.