September perennials

Sedum rupestre 'Angelina' was magnificent in my planter. The chartreuse color stood out from the road and up-close the sedum is filled with so much interest and texture. This looked wonderful the entire summer and I can not wait for the fall display of reddish-orange. My new love.

Sedum cauticola 'Lidakense' filled another planter. The blueish color added nice interest. Although it did not fill the planter as well as 'Angelina' did, it still looked great and looks awesome in bloom. 

A lavender phlox and a few daisies still blooming.

Sedum 'Autumn Joy' in bloom with what I believe to be Buddleia davidii 'Peacock'. The color is amazing and unlike 'Pink Delight' it really stands out from the road. 

August perennials

I prefer the late yellow color of Helenium 'Double Trouble' over Black-eyed Susans. Miscanthus siensis 'Cosmopolitian' has a strong presence in the garden.

Amethyst 'Coral Berry' is bursting with pink berries.

I really appreciate the dark glossy foliage of Chelone lyonii 'Hot Lips' with the contrasting light flower.

Sedum 'Autumn Joy'

Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' will bloom until October, combined with Lantana montevidensis 'Sellowiana'

Joe Pye weed beginning to bloom with arches of Pennisetum cassian in view.

The short blooming Physostegia virginiana 'Summer Snow' packs a bright punch in the border.

A view of my last year's garden expansion.

I will need to expand the garden a little more and more some plants around to create more of the look I desire. The bee balm leaves a empty spot right in the center of my garden, so I am hoping move the bee balm to the end of the garden. This will also give the bee balm more room to expand and create a drift of color to attract some hummingbirds.

Apple picking

One of my favorite times of the year. Apple picking has begun here. I have the fondest memories of apple picking with my grandparents, every year. Back then the trees were huge. It is still officially summer, but to me apple picking marks the beginning of fall.

Last year, we picked way too many apples. This year, we picked enough to make some apple crisp, apple sauce, and a few caramel apples. Earthways by Carol Petrash suggested baking whole apples, stuffed with walnuts, raisins, and dates. That sounds so good, we'll have to give them a try. 

A picnic with some new friends.

First day of school

Looks like we are off to a good start. We can only hope that this year will be different (our little one had negative feelings about school all last year). Some thought my little one just wanted to be with me, as I have been home with her. I feel that our path was one where she grew into exploring and discovering on her own, have confidence in her decision making and knowing she had my unconditional love and support. Looking back, my thoughts are that the classroom environment was not thought out or prepared for the little ones, maybe there were not enough new things to explore and discover and learn. I also feel the schedule might have been too ridged and too scheduled for my little one. 

This year, I signed my little one up for school 4 days before the start of school. It was a tough decision. I felt that after this year we will be able to better determine if this school's setting and scheduling is right for our little one. 

Preschool Art Boxes

We utilized the dried up paint in my little ones paint containers. I took a pair of blunt scissors and scraped the sides of the paint containers. My little one shook out the shavings on her paper and then sprayed water on the dried paint. She really enjoyed this project. 

We have a few boxes of craft supplies in our house. One box contains smaller supplies and one's that are best used with some supervision - like beads, confetti, and glitter. Two boxes are within my little ones reach, so she could access them whenever she wants. One box is labeled "Paint" and the other "Create". As she grows older, I am able to offer more supplies that I feel she could safely handle if I were not in the room. The "paint" box has paints, watercolors, foam shapes, popsicle sticks, a variety of paint brushes, some rubber cooking basting brushes ($1.00 at the dollar store), a set of 3 alex art funky texture brushes, and my little one's absolute favorite, a mini paint roller. The "create" box has paper, scissors, strips of paper, glue, google eyes, popsicle sticks, unfinished wood pieces, pipe cleaners, stamps, and small offerings of paper confetti, beads, buttons, and pom poms.

Here are some of today's masterpieces.

Someone is getting ready for Halloween. Already? 

Created with the mini paint roller with her fingers and popsicle sticks creating cool impressions. 

Looking back at July perennials

Garden Phlox unknown

Echinacea 'White Swan'

Echinacea 'Kim's Mop Head' behind dried Allium Cristophii 

Echinacea 'Harvest Moon' with profusely blooming Anthemis 'Susann Mitchell'

Echinop 'Globe Thistle', a first love, from my Grandmother's garden.

A spring favorite, Centaurea dealbata blooms again 

Allium 'Mt.Sinai' blooms from July through September

Coreopsis 'Moonbeam', which needs lots of deadheading, looks great with Lantana montevidensis 'Sellowiana'

Shiny beetle

Found on a walk - 1 iridescent beetle.