While we’ve had some nice warms days, there’s no doubt now that we’ve seen the back end of summer. Leaves are falling fast and some nights the temps are right down to 0.

While there are still quite a few flowers blooming, we are only one good frost from it all being over for the year.

The Monkhood is looking fabulous this year. It’s such and odd looking plant that does well in shady areas. This one has really grown this year. I might split it up in spring and spread it around a bit.

Koko Loko still had several blooms. I love how the colour is so dark, and slowly fades out as it blooms. I did cut these ones and bring them inside, along with a few bolero blooms.

Bolero smell amazing. I really should cut the flowers more often and bring them in.

We had a few days of pretty heavy rain, and it knocked down the Vanilla Ice Cream Sunflower out front. So I took it down completely and cut the remaining blooms for another vase. There are still two other large plants in the garden, so there’s still seeds for the finches.

I absolutely love these yellow nasturtiums that I planted under the cucumbers. I wish I could remember what the name was so I can make sure I have more seeds for next year.

A few weeks back, I picked up these pretty mums at the grocery store with the intent of putting them in the garden. I was surprised to fin there were actually three plants in the pot. I’m hoping that they are perrenial mum. The grocery store mums never say, because they are sold as just seasonal items. But I’ve gotten lucky with a couple.

These two were both perennial mums bought from the grocery store. And although they look very similar here, the one on the left is much larger, and the one on the right it normally a much brighter pink.

You’ll recall that I moved the toad lilies out of the catio this year – as they were attracting the hummingbirds into the danger zone.

They didn’t bloom earlier enough for the hummingbirds this year – but they are thriving in two of the spot I put them. In two other spots, they haven’t done so well but those spots are much dryer and I think with the lack of rain, it was just too much for them. Not sure if they will come back next year. But I have plenty in the spots they did do well in.

As the season winds down, there’s nothing to do but enjoy every last bloom.