Tuesday's Things....

 

The silver maple has lost most all of its leaves. I had six of these at my old place and in the thirty plus years we lived there they are now all gone. The last one was taken down by the derecho and then the city too the rest of it down.  I do get to enjoy this one and I don't have to rake its leaves.  Can you see the larger bird sitting in the tree?

Our fall color is now mostly brown. Some burning bushes are turning a bright red but all the rest have just faded away to brown. You can seee the maple in the distance. All of the broken branches have now all fallen. It had broken branches for a couple of years that just didn't go away.

The cottonwood still has some leaves. It is a large tree and I have to zoom in on it to show how big that it is. This is actually three rows of house down into another development.  I guess those who built there thought there was value to keep it standing. 

Our yesterday's sunrise looked like this.  It was great compared to today as we were fully clouded over with not a sign of the sun being anywhere.  The regular time meant we got up in the dark anyway. By noon the clouds did clear and we do now have sun. Our temps will be a little cooler today but it is still nice out there. Fall weather is usually cool. I didn't do much physical labor today as I needed a day of healing.  Maybe tomorrow I can do some more serous work.  Thanks for stopping by today.

A Good Start for Me.....

 

It is about time to remove the angel from the secret garden.  He sits there all alone only in view when one walks around behind the large blue spruce.  I am going to be seeing hostas popping up all along the front of the bench next spring. I also have in mind of finding a small animal sculpture to sit on the other end of the bench. I don't remember what else I put back there but I think I will be surprised when I see it. The bricks are from an almost abandoned coal mining town of Moran, Iowa.  The bench slab is a leftover slab of flagstone that was used as a foundation for my old house's kitchen foundation.  It was used back 115 years ago when the house was built.  

The former owner of our home moved to Boston, leaving a lot of his garden pieces behind. I think I need to shine this up a bit so it can be more easily viewed.

As the time changes I have to watch more carefully to see sunsets like this. I could see a slight amount of pink out my south eastern window so I went out the front door, northwest, to see this.  It will be dark tonight at five o'clock. We will just have to get use to it.

 

 

The privet is a yellow all summer and now as fall hits the newer leaves seem to be green. The freezes really haven't bothered it much. The changing of the light is probably causing more of the change.  

I worked outside this morning clearing away the morning glory vines. I collected seeds from them even though I have a couple of jars full of them already.  It is just hard not to harvest some.  We are having a warmer day today and it is nice to be outside. I waited to mow the front yard as there are the two trees still dropping leaves.  I need to cut back the roses sometimes this week. i don't always get it done but it does make it easier in the spring with the pruning already finished. 

Thanks for stopping in today.

The Sun Times.....

 Early morning cloud seem to block the sun even though there is a lot of light out there. The clouds did scatter as the sun heated up the atmosphere. 

I was surprised to see this cactus blooming.  It was on the other side of the plant stand and I saw the glancing view of the color. I moved the plant to the other side and now we can enjoy it. Those in the know say that the leaf shape of the plant makes it to be a Thanksgiving cactus. 

 

On the same plant stand I was watching this one bloom.  It isn't as robust as the other one. The conditions for them both are exactly the same so they bloomed at the same time.  I don't water them so much but the light conditions seem to cause them also to bloom. 

I am sharing a poor photo of what was flying over me yesterday while I was working in the back yard.  The flight patterns of the Des Moines Airprot vary and right now we seem to be having all the traffic flying over us.  Jets seem to be coming and going regularly. The geese are a quit form of air craft and yet they honk while they fly so I do look up and see them. They seem to be moving from harvested farm fields to different water locations.  The eat from the bean fields and corn fields too. The Lake Saylorville is about four miles from us on the west and the business ponds and University pond are places they fly to continually.  We actually are seeing sea gulls flying over while at the grocery store parking lot right now. 

It is a good day to rest.  The work I do through the week eventually catches up on me and I have to just stop.  Yards got mowed, iris got planted, 13 recycle bags got deposited in bins and weeds were pulled. Now I will just sit and blog too.  Thanks for stopping by today.

Sat Stuff...

 

I looked up thinking I was seeing a cloud and was surprised to see the day moon. By evening it will have changed position to the far east and so low that I won't be able to see it. 

 

 

The neighbor is moving and digging some iris to take with her to the new place. She didn't have to ask twice if I wanted any samples.  All four of the varieties that she had are different than what I have.  I could see them through the fence in bloom and now I have some of them.  Pink, light blue, and yellow will be new to me.  I gave her three samples of mine that she can have at her new house and garden.  She will have seven to get planted soon.

One other color she gave me was a two colored one with brown and maroon colors that are an old fashion one. I didn't buy new iris this past season and I won't do it again this year.  Sharing rhizomes is almost like sharing presents. 

 

 

One has to be determined to want flowers as planting iris seems futile when you put the rhizomes in the ground. I have gardened a long time and just like tulips, you plant and just wait for along time for the results.  I may not see these iris bloom this coming late spring but I will the next year for sure. Working outside was good.  I had a parka on with the hood but it wasn't too cold. We warmed up to almost 60°F. 

I usually watch "This Old House" on Saturdays so a sugar free cookie and coffee are in order.  I actually tape the show and watch it whenever on the day. The chocolate is a spread that I shouldn't be eating but I have less than an eight of a teaspoon on there.  Second coffee for the day in the afternoon and I usually have one more after supper.  I sleep just fine.   Thanks for stopping by today.

Friday's Finds....

 There are eight blooms and only two buds to go. It has been a great orchid putting out a lot of color for a long time.

It was peaking through clouds hanging low to the east. I couldn't believe it was that low in the sky.  It is called Waning Gibbous and is 69% illuminated. Eventually it will show up so low in the sky that I won't see it.

We are having warmer weather. I drove the truck north a few miles to dump my 14 recycle bags at designated dumpsters.  It was to good to get the truck emptied out and free for carrying other things. We got our neighbors headboard today and we installed it on our spare bedroom bed.  It wasn't an easy task but it is done. It looks like the room is now finished after being here seven years. I have yard work to do and will do that tomorrow. It is nice that the windy conditions are gone now and we are having a more normal fall temps. It has been a good day.  Thanks for stopping by today.

Fall.....

 

Two shots taken in a difference of half hour time. The color goes away so quickly and it was just 31°F turning into a clear warmer day.

My burning bush is showing the promised future colors. It seams to be slow in changing color compared to other bushes that I have seen around time.

The mums suffered from the drought but the cold weather is making them bloom better.  

I exchanged iris rhizomes with a neighbor today.  It is free for both of us with totally different colors for each of our collections.  The neighbor is moving away so she can plant more for her new garden at her new house. I will plant my new iris tomorrow while we are having milder weather.  I mowed and mulched the leaves in the backyard this morning.  I will have to mow up more of them in the future but it is good to stay ahead of them.  I will have aches and pains tomorrow for cranking on my mower to get it started and the mowing.  Such is life.  Thanks for stopping by today.

Middle of the Week.....

 It was 21° F. this morning and the birds are not taking any sips. This afternoon they can find it has melted at 45° F.  

Walking out on the deck with bare feet is a real sacrifice for my blog photo. I didn't stay out there very long. 

The hardy geranium is glad to be inside today. It hasn't bloomed well all season but the ones I get from it inside are really appreciated.

The dogwood shrub has turned red already and can be seen because the leaves have all fallen to the ground. 

The past two days we have had strong winds.  We get leaves from our neighbors collecting in certain spots around the house.  I am sure my small leaves are going down the hill also.  

The sun is shining this afternoon and it makes it seem warmer. I did need my winter coat to go to get the mail.  That's close to winter weather without the snow. Thanks for stopping by today.