While the nights are terribly chilly, the days have been rather lovely. So the cats and I have been outside every chance we get, soaking up as much sun as as we can. October can turn grey in a moment.

And the gardens, while not quite as amazing as they were a few weeks ago, continue to chug along…

The mums are pretty much unstoppable until we get hit with a really hard frost.

The Cosmos continue their insanity. I’ve stopped deadheading them because they just keep popping out new flowers without any help from me.

Both the Black Knight and White Profusion butterfly bushes are still in bloom. There’s even a few butterflies still kicking around – mostly Red Admirals and White Cabbages. I haven’t seen a Monarch since our little friend flew off earlier this week.

The bees are still pretty active though. Not as many as there were, but it’s not unusual to see a bee or three out there if the sun is shining.

Cone flowers are still pushing up a bloom or two.

And this Spanish Thrift has been blooming non-stop since I put it in the driveway garden in June. I tried to grow it several times at the townhouse. It would bloom once, than die off, never to come back the following spring. I’ve since learned they they are Alpine flowers, so prefer well draining soil… the townhouse was heavy clay, and just not idea. But here, the driveway garden is perfect. I hope I can get some other colours next spring.

And who doesn’t love a pop of purple in October? L-R – New England Aster, Blue Lobelia, and Toad Lilies.

All this beauty could end any day now, so excuse me while I go enjoy as much of it as I can.