Wednesday, September 4, 2019

September Slump

As it always seems September is the time in the garden that everything seems to slump. Every plant in the garden seems to start to get that worn look. 
Some of the reasons are that the days are getting shorter and we haven't come to the fall rains yet. There is a lot of moisture in the air. We have had heavy fogs each morning but not much else.
 I sort of hate to admit it but this gardener looks forward to the time when I don't have to do much in the garden except weed and sit around thinking about things I want to do next year. Do you ever get like this? 
I have had some nice surprises lately. Like these two Queen of the Prairie Filipendula rubra plants deciding to bloom. They normally bloom in the spring/early summer. I think what brought these blooms on is that there was an accident and a major water line was broken. The city came to flush the lines after it was fixed so this area of the garden was flooded. I guess the Queen thought it was spring again.
Another pleasant surprise was this Red Spotted Purple butterfly that sashayed through the garden. I don't see these often in the garden. You can see the red spots on the underwings in the following photo.  
I hope you are having plenty of pleasant surprises in your garden. 


28 comments:

  1. Lisa I certainly understand the worn look in September...mine was looking very worn in August. I love your Queen of the Prairie. Such a lovely surprise...The Red Spotted Purple butterfly is gorgeous. I have seen similar ones in my field too. Hope you can catch a bit of rest now as the garden season slows down. Have a very good day. Hugs!

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    1. The Queen was a lovely surprise. Thanks for stopping in.

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  2. Dat is apart dat de moerasspirea (Filipendula rubra) weer is gaan bloeien.Misschien toch de klimaat verandering in de wereld.
    Gr Jan(Wilde een Tuin)

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    1. I am pretty sure that the near drowning was the cause of the bloom at this time.

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  3. Wonderful butterfly pics, Lisa! I pretty much feel the same way about my garden. Even irrigating twice a week, my garden looks dry all the time. It's gotten really hot here in the past week too. Add the collateral damage from the remodel and I just want to throw up my hands.

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    1. Oh Kris, I don't want to complain to you about my garden. You have so much going on in your life right now. I would be pulling out my hair for sure.

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  4. At this time of the year, from mid august through September, I go into a gardening slum along with my garden. I know the work will start up again when it is time for the fall clean up, but I am happy to wait and let it slump.

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    1. The work rarely stops does it Linda. We must take advantage when we can.

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  5. I agree! The plants look tired but the fruit is plentiful so that's a perk. I look forward to each season. I was looking forward to canning. Now I'm looking forward to soups and stews etc :-) Always the case right?

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  6. Hi Lisa ! .. I know what you mean about the slump time, I haven't been in the garden for a while and it needs a bit of love from me SOON!LOL
    Your pictures are so pretty and what a treat to see that gorgeous butterfly! .. I have had more Monarchs in my back garden (Pink Diamond standard hydrangea is a MAGNET !) than I have ever seen any year before (that is about 20 years!) .. so that has been wonderful to see. But .. it is getting to be that time when I have to get serious about starting to cut back foliage and sort plans out for the winter shut down .. it will be here before we know it right ?
    I love fog ... I'm an east coast kid at heart .. plants love that moisture in any form, but wow on the Queen and her flowers !
    Enjoy what you have going on and rest up while you can ? LOL

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  7. Yes, I get that feeling, too--usually this time of year when the garden is slowing down and the Oak leaves are starting to fall and make a mess all over the place. Pretty soon I'll have to start raking, and that doesn't stop until around Halloween. My sunny garden and the potted plants are going strong, though, so I'm focusing on those areas. ;-)

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  8. Love the ' surprises' ~ Nature always has a treasure even in the 'slump' ~ ^_^

    Happy Day to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  9. One thing about our climate is winter often provides an enforced gardening break which is no bad thing. It’s a time to refresh batteries ready for renewed enthusiasm come spring

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  10. Your garden still looks good despite slump time. Wonderful butterfly--all those amazing colors. Here everything is suddenly tired because of a long dreaded heat wave. Don't want to even go outside!

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  11. Red Spotted Purple! Aren't they amazing? I admit I'm losing motivation in the garden, but I have a lot to do this fall so I better snap out of it.

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  12. Thanks for coming by and love your delightful comments ^_^

    Happy Day to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  13. Thanks, again for your comment on my blog ~

    Happy Day to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  14. Again, great 'to see you and enjoy your comments.' ~

    Happy Day to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  15. I discovered your blog through Dee Nash's Red Dirt Ramblings. It was a wonderful treat to read. Love the video of your garden from the roof top! (And the lovely, meaningful journal you created from your daughter)
    Peace and Love to you from Dallas, Texas.

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  16. Lisa, I have never seen Red Spotted Purple butterfly, they are amazing. I love your second photo, it seems your garden is very tidy.
    Happy new week!

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  17. What a surprise, the butterfly so cute...

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  18. I look at the upcoming fall as a time for the garden to rest and get ready for next year. The butterflies are stunning! I had never seen that variety before.

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  19. What an enchanting place--full of both secrets and surprises, no doubt!

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  20. dear lisa,
    i cannot begin to thank you for your kindest most loving visits at haiku my heart. today is the first time the link worked and i could follow you back to your beautiful garden! i am so grateful to be surrounded in your beauty. to walk beside you through the seasons and know we breathe in the same peace. thank you for your generous and caring heart.

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  21. What a gorgeous butterfly! I have seen some in my garden, and they are a favorite. September is usually a busy garden month for me, but it has been much too hot and dry this year to do much, so I am in a frustrated holding pattern till fall arrives. I like our winters, because there are some days pleasant enough to garden but no rush to do anything. I much prefer winter to what we have been experiencing recently.

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  22. Yes, I too look forward to the off-season when I can plan what I'm going to do in the garden next year. It's a time for grand dreams!

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  23. Lisa, your garden is lovely. If this is slump time, I would never have known if you hadn't said so:) I love the butterfly!

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