Fall garden glance

The temperatures mercifully fell into the 70's this week and our fall garden also went whew! A short lived treat, though- we head back into the upper 80's for the next 5 days.

Enjoy the color in the garden with me!

The chard stalks are an incredible red...

The figs are in full production...

The castor bean has almost reached the phone lines...

and is visited on a regular basis by the insects...

and also has an incredible red / burgundy green combination...

This darling flowering weed proves that weeds are not all "bad"...

The perennial periwinkle is also blooming now...

and the porcelain berry vines have lots of purple and blue berries...

 

Lastly, the datura topiary is in its third cycle of blooms this summer...

 

which means our evenings are filled with a delightful scent.

Happy Weekend!


Thank you, Cindy, at My Romantic Home, for Show & Tell Friday.

An ode to summer

Summer is beginning its graceful exit.
How do I know that fall is slowly returning?

The acorns have been falling for a week. Leaves are beginning to slowly turn a color other than green and a few have even dropped. The figs are ready and the tomatoes are filling up my neighborhood's kitchens. The spiders are out in full force in my garden, the critters are going after the grubs under my "grass" and many of the hydrangeas are leathery.

Here's what I'll miss about summer. The taste and color of figs.

  New French Country by Linda Dannenberg

 All that potential with the luscious, ripe grapes.

New French Country by Linda Dannenberg

A late afternoon snack on a lazy day. The screened porch is a god-send during mosquito season~ now.

 

Cultivated Pleasures by Elizabeth Saft

On a vacation with a view, fresh fruit, comfy chairs and guests due any moment. 

Italian Style by Jane Gordon-Clark

A spur of the moment dinner outside.

Set With Style by Caroline Clifton-Mogg

Parking in the loggia with friends and family for the entire evening.

Set With Style by Caroline Clifton-Mogg

Picking the ripe peaches, then biting into your peach with the juice dribbling down your chin...and everyone else's also! No shame here. (Anyone have a napkin?)

 

New French Country by Linda Dannenberg

Strolling through the garden and eating tomatoes just like a peach!

Essentially French by Josephine Ryan

I found this wonderful recipe and plan on making a few tomato pies this weekend to share. Would you like to join me? Here is the recipe.

 

French Chic by Florence de Dampierre

I have plenty of basil to spare. We experimented and planted the "regular" basil and Italian basil seeds from Franchi Sementi. The leaves are large and puckered and very sweet. Right now, we have fresh pesto several times a week. Soon, we'll freeze ice cube-size batches for the winter.

French Chic by Florence de Dampierre

This is my 100th post and I am celebrating by offering a wreath giveaway.

Be sure to check HERE to learn how to win a hydrangea wreath for your fall decor! The deadline to enter is this Sunday, August 22nd.  

Comment often!

Thank you, Cindy, at My Romantic Home, for Show & Tell Friday.