How the sun shines, or not, on your garden ?

 

I was so amazed with the misty clouds that covered the sun that morning and I literally ran to get my camera to capture it .. an honorable mention to Sophie my cat, for getting out of the way quickly enough, to save both of our dignities ? LOL

You start to notice the smaller things when the garden becomes quiet. 

I have had this ornamental grass for years .. but I have divided it, transplanted it, and admired it more than ever now. 

 The water is like a magnifying glass and enlarges the grass head "beads" themselves.

I love the twilight evening sun highlighting plants in the garden .. the sound of the crickets and the stillness of the air makes it feel magical to me (trying not to sound over dramatic, but really .. it does)

Changes are happening in the garden on cue for the season beginning towards the ending.

Hydrangea are shifting their colours .. other plants are trending through their natural cycles.

The shear "fear" factor of how much I have to do, to get everything in it's right place, before the ground freezes .. rewind last year's "OMG"

I have a more refined respect of not counting on the weather like I had for many a year before .. the ground freezing so much sooner and my bulbs not getting in fast enough .. well, I don't want to go through that again !

I wonder if some cute plants aka this fern, will make it through the winter because I didn't have a plant tag with it .. so it is a gamble. If anyone recognizes this fern please let me know if it can survive zone 5b ?

I have jam packed as many plants as possible last year, only to switch tactics this year and want a half moon accessory path towards the inside of the garden .. this is going to take some "go with your instincts" action and just bite the bullet to downsize some plants.

I have already sacrificed some lavenders that were under performing .. now I guide my scaling down by way of said under performing plants .. which include some amazing foliage hydrangea that NEVER flowered in over 5 years .. I think it is time to call it quits with them and move on !

I couldn't help the above picture, it just struck me as so pretty ... the skeletons of "Stand by Me"bush clematis. The seed heads are intriguing aren't they ? 

Further up from it is "Twinkle" in the same condition. 

I am tempted to call them the little ghosts in the garden.

I've been waiting for the Monarchs to visit Pink Diamond hydrangea like they did last year.

So far I have lots of other insect pollinators but no Monarchs .. that worries me, makes me a little sad

For now I will have to enjoy my cement frog (people who know me , know I have a thing for frogs and frog song) and the evolving garden to Autumn.  

Every living creature, and plant, have an after glow when the sprinklers have left their shower.

They go off at 5:30 in the morning, so the water dries during the day, as to not cause powdery mildew problems, plus it is within the water "law" limitations .. we try to do the right thing !

So I don't have bright sunshine in most shots, you see the plants without the bright lighting or make-up?