After the Rain

 

I'm linking up with  Good, Random, Fun and Garden Affair

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  

Birds

 We've had so many birds enjoying the garden lately...particularly the sunflowers and the grapes.

Often I will open the back door and step outside, only to find a dozen or more quail quickly scampering away. One day I grabbed my camera and snuck outside quietly so I could get a few photographs.

I also find birds under the grapevines with grapes in their mouths. 

Antoher day I was practicing my violin when I saw a swarm of red-winged blackbirds land in the garden. They don't visit the yard often, so I grabbed my camera and went outside.

Here are a couple other types of birds I see regularly...

I'm linking up with  Good, Random, Fun and Garden Affair

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  

Random Things

 Even though we are in mid-October, there is still so much happening in the garden. We are expecting our first freeze this week and I'm sad to face saying goodbye to the dahlias, cosmos and zinnias which all still have buds blooms. I've been making so many bouquets  - for myself and for others - to try to use up and enjoy as many flowers as possible. 

Recently my girls and I dressed up and went out for "girls night out"...it was so much fun. 

We've also been treated to some pretty spectacular views of Mt. Hood lately. One on a hike and the other was the setting of our most recent gig. 

I'm linking up with  Good, Random, Fun and Garden Affair

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