Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Outdoor Wednesday in my back yard...

You can tell that the seasons are changing here in my neck of the woods. Although it is still quite warm...it will reach 85 today...the intensity of the heat is a lot less. The days are getting shorter...it is dark by 7PM...not the 8:30PM of summer. But there is still a lot of activity in my yard...well...to be truthful, there always is here. You see...the seasons are different here in Southern California...they are more subtle.
The carpenter bees are so busy at work in the Autumn Sage, even though that is a plant that I will cut way back in November when most of their flowers will fade. These huge bees fascinate me...they are solitary bees...not like the honey bees, which are all over anything that is blooming in mass.

The hibiscus are still in full bloom too...can you see the little ant in there...he discovered some aphids and is off to milk them....sorry ant...I have to get rid of the aphids!


I planted this plant about 20 years ago and I thought it was a gonner about 3 years ago when we had a really bad cold spell....we had many days of frost in a row....and snow! Yes...we occasionally get some snow here, but it never is too much and it doesn't stick...but that year it did! Luckily, this beauty came back from the dead and grew just as pretty as ever!



My shade plants are happy right now that the intense heat is over....but they won't last much longer either...





by Thanksgiving, they will all go to sleep for the winter. I may get lucky and some of the annuals will stay a bit longer...




The zinnias are quite happy....I have so many all around the yard...







but I am just showing the Fall colored ones here...






that are in the back yard today. In fact...all of the pictures are from the back because I was gardening out there yesterday and that's when I took all these photos.








We can't forget the veggies...although the tomatoes are still blooming....










and there is still plenty of fruit...









the fruit is getting smaller as the days get shorter and the plants are just getting tired....after all they have been working hard since March. If I get really lucky...and the weather doesn't get real cold early...I could have some tomatoes at Christmas! By real cold...in Californian...that translates to I have to wear long pants and even a sweater...50 degrees for us means I even have to put shoes on! Now that's cold!
I hope you are having an enjoyable week....make it even better by going to visit Susan and all the others at Outdoor Wednesdays.












19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Such pretty flowers!

It seems like your weather is pretty similar to ours, except we probably have a bit more humidity.

Jocelyn said...

Beautiful pictures! We live in Florida so I know the cold you are talking about :-)

Jocelyn
http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com

Cyndi said...

Ah, Linda, I always enjoy the photos of your gardens! Mine have all pretty much given up in anticipation of the winter...which is COLD here in Ohio! I am NOT looking forward to it, either!

XOXO,

Cyndi

Ms.Daisy said...

Linda,
Thanks for showing us the blooms in your garden...they are beautiful. Here in the Northeast, things have really slowed way down and much of my garden is already getting ready to go dormant. I do love the Fall season though so I'm looking forward to the change in colors. Eight years ago, my daughter and her family lived in San Diego and I did have a chance to visit them. It is really lovely there.


~Jean

Jules said...

Beautiful pictures! I spent a little time at the shop today (while waiting for my dad to pick me up) taking some pics of Alstra flowers. Check out my blog a little later for those!

Julie
http://julessofun.blogspot.com (for photography stuff)

Traci said...

What beautiful flowers! Here in Louisiana it's in the mid 90's still & we're wishing for mid 80's!!! HAHA!

Thanks for stopping by!

Carolyn said...

You do have lots going on in your garden still and you got some nice pics. It is amazing that it is still that hot where you live.

Thanks for visiting me today,
Carolyn

Dandelion and Daisy said...

Thanks for visiting, I see you have a very nice salvia/sage plant too. We have had such a short summer in the PNW I am not ready for fall yet...I don't seem to have much to say about it, it's a happenin'!

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

What a lovely time spent enjoying your lovely plants and flowers! Everything is doing so well :)

deb said...

I love your yard and love to spend time in it too!!!! wanna trade...lolololol...ok ok dont say anything!!!!!! my tomato plants look pathetic...I think soon I will tear them out....

My Cozy Corner said...

Hi
Thanks for stopping by My Cozy Corner.
Your post is beautiful. Gardening and photography are my passions. Oh I forgot blogging.
xoxo
Betty

Ebie said...

You have a lot of beautiful blooming plants in your garden. I specially love the double hibiscus (if I may call it).

Anonymous said...

Beautiful flowers, especially your hibiscus, so fanciful!

Anonymous said...

Love all the photos of the flowers. Everything is pretty much either burnt up or dried up here. The weather has been horrible here this summer. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. I really appreciate it ;o)

Lady Farmer said...

Oh, your flowers are so pretty! I love the Zinnia's! The bees are still hare at work there!
And I have wanted to start some coleus for ages ~ maybe next spring. Your's has inspired me!
Thanks for coming to The Barnyard and commenting!
Blessings!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

You are very lucky to have such nice weather to have tomatoes growing for such a long time, Linda!

Your flowers are all beautiful!

DoanLegacy said...

Gorgeous flowers, and yummy tomatoes!

Jeanne said...

Hi Linda, thank you for your sweet comment and visit.

Your outdoor photos are beautiful. Your Flowers are so pretty. I'm glad your plant came back after the cold winter. I can see you know your way around a camera. Out tomatoes look like yours. Smaller but still good.

I am writing this comment in Ohio. My sister and I are on a buying trip for her antique business. We will be home in four days. Fun, fun, fun.
Hugs, Jeanne

agreenearth said...

What a beautiful and bountiful garden you have.