This Dwarf Gaillardia in my front garden is just blooming away despite the cold, wind and SNOW. What tickles me about this little plant is for most of the summer I got nothing from it other than beautiful leaves. Maybe it just wanted to be the “star” of my garden … all alone … just blooming away!!

And then I found a few rose buds on one of my ground cover roses … I do love the raspberry color.

You folk inspired me to begin thinking outside the box … and my Side of the Yard Container Garden was born. I got to share my excitement as the idea became a reality from my shopping trips, decoupaging my old blue stock pot, debating whether to refinish the rusty milk jug and then proudly displaying the finished garden. You guys even “put up” with lots of pictures from that little garden as it grew and changed over the summer.

And of course once that garden was successful you gave me the courage to conquer that “invasive concrete” in the back yard without removing concrete … with unusual planters (rusty wheelbarrow), stone baskets and colorful containers/hanging baskets … and again all cuz of the motivation and encouragement I got from you guys.

It was okay that I didn’t have this massive yard … you all seemed to enjoy my little place as much as I did. That said a lot in my book … we took joy from each other, no matter what the experience level or size of the gardens. There was no “one upping” here … just a pure joy of gardening and beginning friendships. How fortunate are we to have that here??!!!

I guess this is my attempt to thank you for a spectacular gardening experience this summer. I appreciate each and everyone of you. Look forward to many, many gardening seasons to come and sharing all of it together.

Any one else got “reflections” on how Gardentenders affected your gardening experience??

What are you seeing around you that is just gorgeous this Autumn? How about snapping a pic or two and sharing it with us … I’ve started … :-)

So while my other containers and baskets are dying back, this little Petunia is blooming like crazy; coming into it’s own, so to speak. So figured I would share a photo or two of this small cement basket that I have been watching burst with color all summer long.

(I removed the “first” photo.)

I may add a few pumpkins in the coming weeks; but have to say this is about it for me this year. It has been a truly enjoyable year gardening; one I won’t soon forget. So now on to beautiful Fall colors, raking up leaves and putting our gardens to rest for the winter. I have to admit, I am ready …

This is my version of a Scarecrow … this cute straw lady hangs from our front door and welcomes everyone as they enter.

View coming up the steps … the wooden pot is the FIRST item I attempted to stencile many, many, many years ago now. Surprised the pot has survived all these years. Sadly, could be the last summer for it.

My favorite basket by the front door …

Originally this box was made for our strawberries … but I decided it would be cute on the front porch. Kinda matches the bench, in color anyway …

And granted, the Orange Gerber Daisies are not a “fall plant” but the color fits in so nicely and they bloom till first frost.

When hubby and I went away on our latest vacation, I had expected to come home to the dreary task of beginning to put my gardens to “bed”. A task that I hate because I know fall is basically here and winter not far behind.

As we approached the house from the airport trek home, I thought “Oh MY, look at all that color!!! How beautiful!! My garden is truly in full bloom again.” It was like one last gift of color!! So I had to take a few photos and share “her” gift to me with all of you. Hope it puts a smile on your faces like it did mine.

My first visit to Arizona was last summer (2008). I went for 8 weeks to be with our daughter as she gave birth to her second child. As she drove me from the airport to her home, I could not get over the color … plants everywhere, blooming like crazy in the middle of the dessert. And these were not small plants either. The colors were so vivid … reds, oranges, purples, and yellows.

I also learned that most homes do not have grass, they used a crushed granite in the place of grass. Yard watering systems are underground … a type of soaker hose system. But once established, a lot of Xeric and very Xeric plants grow fine without underground watering. Lanscapes use a lot of boulders and create dry river beds (love how they look!!) with splashes of plants/bushes that bloom. Roses and Ornamental grasses are a must out there too. And of course container gardens are huge for the lovely porches most houses have. And some cactus have beautiful flowers as well …

And then there are those magnificent mountains. They are literally EVERYWHERE you look. How could I ever tire of this view??!!!

We just returned from a ten day trip … and this time I did manage to take a few photos. Granted not as many as I wanted. I seemed to always be forgetting my camera (okay remembered the diapers, bottles, and packets of Cheerios; so some points for Grandma) ... but thought I would share with you what I did manage to take. AND, I will apologize now, cuz I don’t know the name of any of these plants … but am on a “mission” to find out!! After all how can I plant them in my new yard (whenever that happens) if I don’t know the name!! :-)

Took this photo last August … these “purple bushes” are EVERYWHERE and just magnificent!!

This also is another very common bush … takes your breath away in person.

Next two pics are a close up of the flower and then the bush it is found on.

Cool bush that grows VERY tall; this was well above the block walls in my daughter’s back yard.

I LOVE this Cactus … looks like it is growing right out of a basket!!

And of course not to be out-done by Little Grapette … my Raspberry colored Ground Cover Roses are reblooming as well. Everyone is sooooooo happy today!!! :-)

Here is a close up of the rose. It is an old fashioned type of rose flower.

My Stella’s never really totally stopped blooming. So I have sunny little spots of sunshine all over the yard!

Here is one plant just full of flowers!!!

And look I have Corkscrews just like Damocles!!! Aren’t these just the COOLEST!!!

I have been waiting for them to reach the top step of our front porch … and today I noticed that, by golly they had passed it up. Wonder just how tall they will get this summer! Normally my Mallows will grow until the first frost. They are always the last plant that I cut back for winter.

Below is a shot of the major grouping of Mallows. LOL!!! You can see one more to the bottom right that is trying to keep up -

Here are close-ups of the top of the tallest Mallow. Flowers are really pretty.

Hollyhock Mallow Zebrina (Malva sylvestris Zebrina)
Hardy in zones 5-9
Height: 3 feet
Summer Flowering