Soggy

We received more rain this week. Despite the rain garden, the backyard gets soggy, too soggy to comfortably mow. I'll give it a go tomorrow. Maybe. And/or mulch some more.

I've learned to not plant anything in the fall, as by now I'm losing interest in the yard and garden. So I'm happy to see the spring-planted annual pineapple sage start blooming in September. It's amazing how large it gets. The one on the left has a six-foot span, the one on the right is about four feet wide. (Dog for comparison.)

The goldenrod on the south side of the house is about done, while the shorter one on the north side is peaking. The insects *love* it. My SO dug up a clump of it for his yard and is having a similar experience.

The yellow jackets are loving my compost pile. Clio the dog sometimes sits out there, snapping at the flying insects. She has been stung before, but doesn't learn her lesson. I, on the other hand, know to add to the pile early in the day, before the activity starts. Yellow jackets get testy as their food sources die off in the fall.

(These posts get rather boring this time of year, but I don't want to get out of the habit of writing. So please bear with me as we enter the dormant season. Thanks!)

Up close and personal

While spraying the weeds, I came across this guy, not in the milkweed "forest" but on one solo volunteer outside the "meadow". I worried that he might be too late for the trip to Mexico, but late monarch caterpillars are part of the "super generation" that not only migrates thousands of miles but lives for months instead of weeks. Alas, it was gone the next day, presumably eaten by a bird. :-(

Then while weeding the meadow, I noticed clusters of red milkweed beetles. When I got too close, they began to scatter. Not sure why, as they taste terrible (according to AI) so are not prey. You'd think they would be more confrontational over being disturbed.

The container plants on the deck are now getting more sun, provoking them to bloom more. I repotted the fuchsia with plans to try to winter them over indoors. The question is whether to do so in the garage where they will be dormant or try to keep them inside the house and maintain them like active houseplants.

This geranium has been overwintered inside the house but looked ragged... until I repotted it. Right now the whole plant looks great. If I overwinter outdoor plants in the house, I should provide them with more light.

The pineapple sage is starting to bloom. It provides late summer nectar for the hummingbirds. In fact, I see a hummer feeding on the blossoms RIGHT NOW.

I've been remiss about some of the weeds and they are going to seed (BAD, BAD GARDENER!) One type of so-called weed sending fluffy seeds hither and yon turned out to not be a weed after all but wild aster. It's very prolific and the goldfinch like the seeds, so I guess I'll stop pulling it.

Most of my labor these days is weeding and mulching. I'm still picking tomatoes and strawberries, but I gave up on the green beans. The grass continues to grow, so there is mowing and trimming as well. The temps are in the 70's, sometimes 80's, so it is still summerlike but not so oppressive. We could use more rain, though.

Endless summer

The first frost date for my area used to be October 6. Now, according to the Farmer's Almanac, it is October 16. According to WeatherBug, we will not be experiencing any frosts in the near future. This weekend the temps are in the 80's. *sigh*

I owe an apology to the pineapple sage. Almost every time I look out the window, there is a hummingbird enjoying the nectar. And the two plants have LOTS of blossoms. It's a good thing their small pots are heavy.

I have one estimate for removing the dead tulip tree, may give up on the other guys I contacted. Apparently, they are just too busy to bother.

Otherwise, not much is happening in the yard. Besides the pineapple sage, the goldenrod and asters are blooming and attracting pollinators. That's what they are there for.

Bugs

I often feel like I live in an insect desert. But there are a few that show up and hold still long enough for me to photograph.

Mystery bug

Grasshopper

My daughter placed a basil plant where the drain from the HVAC exits her house (constant drip irrigation) and this fine specimen showed up. She suggested a water feature might attract more insects in my yard. I have a small, poorly designed fountain I rarely run, but in the past, insects have paused there for a drink, so maybe she has a point. She also has loads of crickets.

Praying mantis

Pineapple sage was an impulse purchase. I forgot how long it takes to bloom. If it weren't for our extended summer weather, it might not have made it.

Pineapple sage

I was under the weather this past week, but once I perked up, I managed to finish deconstructing the pile of not-asparagus that has been ruining the view. Today's outdoor activities were curtailed by some much needed rain. And so it goes.