Fall Color Touring

Hello everyone!

  I can't believe how fast it's changing here.  We are 2 weeks ahead of our normal fall season.  We took a ride on Sunday to capture some of the beauty before it's done!

I took a shot of the backyard/garden area before we left. The sun was coming out and we were hoping for a good day to see the colors.

You can see how cloudy the skies were, but we were optimistic that it was going to clear up.  This is a road I take everyday as I head to town.  I snapped a few shots off as we drove down the hill.  Funny how you don't realize how many poles and electric lines there are until you take a picture!

I told Dan one of the kinds of pictures I wanted to capture was with a field of corn and trees in the background. Within 10 minutes of leaving our home I found just what I wanted. We did a U turn and pulled off so I could

 get out and take a few pictures.

This was my favorite!

Not far away was this stand of woods that were ablaze with color!

We meandered through the countryside and I clicked off pictures as we went.

A roadside viewing area we stopped at.

These are mostly maple trees.  

We spotted this barn and it was such a pretty shade of red. I always wonder what the rest of the story is when I see a barn standing all by itself.  Not even a house near it.

Isn't it picture perfect!

We came across this old barn and silo that caught our attention immediately. 

The silo is constructed of wood and has been covered with roofing shingle as well as the barn. It makes for a very odd look but I guess they didn't have to paint it for many years!

     You can see it's not in great shape, but it looks sound enough.

They had a large of amount of pumpkins displayed. We didn't notice any for sale signs, but it sure looked like they were selling pumpkins to me!

It's a very odd looking cart- I don't think I've ever seen wheels like those before!  The sunflowers must have been recently cut since they still looked good.

A nice bunch of flowers still blooming.  Notice the pumpkins stacked on the straw bales too!  Someone went to a lot of trouble to arrange all of this!

Notice the corn...

I love how they set up these shocks of corn.  Very unusual and neat to look at!

Their home is tucked behind some trees and on a 

hill so I only got a quick shot of it. More pumpkins!

We stopped at a roadside scenic turnout that has a nice viewing area. I took pictures here last year too but it was a much warmer day and the lake looked beautiful. 

Looking out on Lake Michigan

Our weather was overcast and windy today so we didn't stay long.

We traveled a while and I just enjoyed the view from the car.

 We stopped by at a piece of property that we love in Frankfort. This is at the end of a culdesac.  A lot would be on the left and right as I stand and I imagine their lot lines would meet in the center here.

A developer had started a new subdivision a two houses were built. Then the market took a bad dive and apparently the developer lost the land back to the bank. It's all for sale again, but these days there aren't many new starts of homes so it's going to take a while to see some activity.

 

We love the view at the one end and I always take a picture or two.  That green flat area is actually a small airport for small privately owned planes.

   This is a shot immediately to the right of the last three.  I didn't get the setting right so it came out very dark. Still beautiful though! See why we like it here!  When I win the lottery I'm going to buy this whole bit of land and enjoy it!

It was a good day, but damp and cool. We got home and warmed up with some coffee and relaxed.   

Glad you came by!

I hope this fall season is as enjoyable as ours is!

Tulips.....

I tried, I really tried to resist all the catalogs and on line offerings!

I lost the battle and succumbed to their teasing!  

This time I ordered from John Scheepers

I was not pleased with the big box store's tulips. So I went back to ordering.

All of the ones I ordered are a Triumph Tulip- which is a cross between a Darwin and an Early Tulip.  I stayed with the same type of bulb so they would bloom at the same time and have a similar size.

Cream Perfection

 Don Quichotte

Innuendo

Of course I had to order some daffodils/narcissus

Now I'm anxious to get these and plant them!  I'm going to put them out near the new area by my driveway.  I get a good view of the area from my house and they get plenty of sun.  

I did mention another bulb company that I had ordered from in the past on the post from last April, but I kind of got ticked at them because of some plants I ordered that came in looking dead/damaged and severely delayed due to a shipping error on their part.  I sent them a picture and complained but they seemed uninterested in helping me.  They were more than glad to site their standard wording about how some plants are shipped dormant and may take 6 weeks to look better.  Well the one that looked dead was and the other made it but it was an annual and by the time I got it it was already July.  Then mysteriously another shipment came but it was August by then and that was so late I couldn't believe they bothered. I guess there is always a risk when ordering but they're communication stunk.  Customer service can make you or break you!

Can't wait to see these blooming next spring!  

only163 days to go!

Check out my new countdown clock on my page!

Fall's a comin'

Well actually fall is already here! 

It's come in with a bang and we plan to get out on the weekend to see the beautiful display of fall colors!  

I've been taking it easy and not doing much this week regarding blogging.  

I did manage a post on my garden blog which I'm linking to today.

Sit With Me In my Garden

Fall's a comin'

Hello and Happy Fall!

Things are changing here rather quickly (perhaps too quickly) but no matter how it goes I enjoy the beautiful colors of fall. 

I went out and took a random bunch of shots of trees, shrubs and plants that are already changing. No sun today...possible rain coming- so it's not too cheerie!

Just last week- as you can see in my previous post- it looked a lot different! 

I'll begin with a back up view of my deck Fall display....

The raccoons have been visiting it each night and have stripped the corn off the stalks and also made several messes of my pumpkins and gourds!

 They've eaten them clean and some have ended up on the driveway or the yard....I hope they will tire of coming since they've eaten all the corn!

Each year I try a different display.  It's a bit of fun and sort of a last hurrah before the "white season" begins!

I couldn't resist this speckled swan gourd!  Is there a way to preserve these- dry them etc.?  I've seen gourds dried and they almost look like wood but I don't know if there are any particular steps to take.

They raccoons also broke up my mums in the pot by the lantern...ho hum...I guess that's part of the deal! 

Notice the arbor in the background...the Sweet Autumn Clematis really took over and has been blooming like crazy!  It glows in the evening especially if there is some moonlight!

I've let it go wild and not trimmed it...The birds like to jump in there with their seeds and eat. I guess we could call it the Arbor Hotel!!

 The ferns are done... ready to go to sleep...

 The grasses are turning color too...

The Hostas are starting to die back...

 In about a week we're going to be at peak color here.

Way out back in the field are some Sumac turning red... It's hilly around here...it drops down quite a bit and then right back up!

Back by the fountain area...

Speaking of the fountain...at this time of year it becomes almost impossible to keep the leaves from clogging things up...we'll have to put a screen over it or empty it and turn it off.

My favorite Limelight Hydrangeas are turning...

I turned around and realized our Ash tree is in full color.  We're hoping and praying we won't loose this big old tree to the Emerald Ash Borer.  We've been keeping a close eye on it and are having injections done to create an unpleasant taste to the inner bark of the tree.  It's supposed to turn away these borers.

It always puts on a beautiful display of color...but it's always the first to lose it's leaves!

So say a little prayer for my baby!

 The Queen Elizabeth Grandiflora Rose is still blooming! This is the most successful rose I've ever grown.  I gave up on the Hyrbrid tea roses, but that's what's nice about this, it's a cross between a Hybrid Tea Rose and a Floribunda Rose.  Very hearty and disease resistent!

The Sweet Potato Vines are done....I did slack off on watering which sped things up.  They aren't what you call draught tolerant! The spike and the Supertunias are hanging in there though!

Out by the driveway where the tulips were last spring I've planted some mums. I should probably add some more, don't you agree??

This is my first Limelight Hydrangea I planted several years ago.  It likes this spot and has been a joy to watch.  It's winding down now.  The flowers will turn a papery brown color and hang on for a good part of the winter...they make for an interesting accent when the snow flies! Those are spirea bushes at the base that give it that extra fullness.

Across the street some are maples full of color and more of the sumac.  The woods in the background are still very green so we will still have them to enjoy in the coming days.

 Up by the bedrooms is my Coral Bark Japanese Maple tree...it's in full color already.  Sorry about the blur...it seemed like most of my pictures had a soft blur to them today.  I'm sure it's not photographer!!

Up in my office looking out of my window...my view!

I hope fall is coming to your area too- especially those in the south who have been abused with extreme temperatures all summer!  My friend Tess that I blogged about earlier this summer says they won't have their fall colors until November.  It's still in the 80's there! 

I'm joining Rose Vignettes for
Fresh Cut Friday