Fall Colors in My Yard

October is always a beautiful month, but this year it seems more vibrant and stunning than normal. 

 

I'm linking up with 

Seasons,  Wednesday Around the World,  

My Corner of the World, Image-in-ing  

Scarlet Runner Beans

 The past several years I have grown scarlet runner beans at my house. Every single year I am amazed at how quickly they grow and how beautiful each stage is. The other bonus is that they attract hummingbirds.

Just to add some scale to the size of these beans when fully grown...

The blooms are red and then turn into tiny beans...which grow into huge beans. If you open the bean pods while they are green, the beans are bright pink. If you let the bean pods dry out, the beans are black and purple. 

I'm linking up with 

Seasons,  Wednesday Around the World,  

My Corner of the World, Image-in-ing  

Dahlia Garden

 Last fall a friend of mine gave me several dahlia tubers from her garden. I decided to turn this spot into my new dahlia garden. Last summer this was a sunflower and pumpkin patch. 

I added some stepping stones and mulch, then set about adding some plants to the outside area. 

Every month I loved it even more!

It has become such a beautiful and special area and I already have plans to expand it next year. 

These are the dahlias I currently have. Today I ordered 7 different kinds to plant next year. 

I'm linking up with 

Seasons,  Wednesday Around the World,  

My Corner of the World, Image-in-ing  

Birds in the Garden

So many birds enjoying the garden...

Quail

Scrub Jays

Hummingbirds

Goldfinches

I'm linking up with 

Seasons,  Wednesday Around the World,  

My Corner of the World, Image-in-ing  

 

Garden Curls

I love looking for and find garden curls...

I'm linking up with 

Seasons,  Wednesday Around the World,  

My Corner of the World, Image-in-ing  

 

Hiking South Sister

This past week we went to Central Oregon to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary (which is today, July 20th!). We have been talking about hiking South Sister again and made it a reality. 

South Sister is the third tallest mountain in Oregon - standing at 10,358 ft. The trail leading to the summit is 6 miles long (one way) and is an elevation gain of 5,000 ft. 

It's not the most beautiful hike, but once you get to the top, the views are amazing!  The first "scenic" thing you encounter is this beautiful, turquoise, glacial lake.

And then you start the slow slog upward. 

It doesn't look steep from the photos, but it's steep!

Finally you get to the top, but it's still not quite the summit. That's the summit up behind me.

On the summit

Looking at Middle Sister, North Sister

also Three Fingered Jack, Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Hood

I'm linking up with 

Seasons,  Wednesday Around the World,  

My Corner of the World, Image-in-ing