Perfect fall morning
‘Radrazz’ Knock Out roses in the morning light of late October
I should have been working all morning in the garden. The weather is perfect—cool, sunny, and calm—and I’m still in the process of digging out grass in the side yard by the new fence, plus the new gate needs a second coat of paint.
Instead I’ve been carrying my camera around, leaning in for closer looks, feeling the leaves and smelling the roses. Even the normally scentless ‘Radrazz’ roses next to the ‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave (A. ovatifolia) smell warm and sweet in the sunlight this morning.
Their cherry red absolutely pops against the blue of the pool and the blue-green of the ‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave. And you know I like my garden to pop.
Annie in Austin‘s passalong pink cuphea is in full, lush, bee-attracting bloom next to the softleaf yucca (Y. recurvifolia).
Maybe I even prefer this cuphea to the bat-face (C. llavea).
This baby golden barrel (Echinocactus grusonii) glows in the sunlight.
Another passalong from Annie, Salvia madrensis, is beginning to bloom. I first saw this plant in the Circle Garden at Chicago Botanic Garden, and recently I admired a large swath in Lucinda Hutson’s garden.
Like many salvias, it has a fuzzy flower spike.
Its leaf is sandpapery, like a cat’s tongue.
Agastache ‘Ava’ continues to look lovely against the powder blue Wheeler’s sotol.
And Agastache neomexicana is blooming again. Both agastaches were part of Gardening Gone Wild’s photo contest prize, courtesy of High Country Gardens.
Pineapple sage (Salvia elegans) blazes red with contrasting chartreuse leaves.
‘Helvola’ water lily seems to be the only one taking the approach of fall seriously. Its flowers have faded, and its floating leaves are turning yellow.
This Texas spiny lizard simply wants to bask on the sun-warmed boards of the deck. I understand. I’m feeling lazy today too.
All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
It looks like spring in your garden, so fresh and colorful. And it is nice to just enjoy the garden for awhile and not be constantly working in it. (It’s not so nice here… rainy, though warmish for this time of year.) We need all you Austin bloggers, and really all southern gardeners to keep posting about blooms to get us through another winter!
Autumn is considered our second spring, Carol, and you are right—the garden is fresh and colorful right now, especially compared with our recent summer. We’re moving out of our difficult season, just as you move into yours. Good thing we can count on each other’s blogs to keep us going when the going gets tough. —Pam
After your summer from Hell, you deserve some time just be in the garden enjoying it. Of course, like most gardeners, you can’t sit still, so taking photos is the closest you get. Annie’s cuphea is charming, I can see why it could become your favorite.
Yes, it is hard to sit still in the garden, but taking photos does at least allow me look closely and observe, which is part of the enjoyment of the garden. —Pam
I really did regret not taking any photos. These flowers were all there and I saw them but didn’t take their photo.. They look stunning in your photographs. As I said at the time that pink cuphea is beautiful. The sunny day just lights up the whole garden. I know you are enjoying it and are probably hard at work right now.
Well, I did get the gate repainted at least. I understand about the photo dilemma. It can feel a little funny to take pics of another blogger’s garden when he or she already documents it all the time. Of course, that doesn’t stop me in your garden, does it? Anyway, there’s always next time. Thanks again for your visit and impromptu drainage consultation. —Pam
Great lizard capture.
Isn’t our weather wonderful? After the summer we deserve some garden-fun time. I’ve been doing some planting lately, even though I said in August I’d never plant anything again. But the planting has been leisurely with stops to look and smell and be happy.
Thanks for your recent comments! I feel honored.
But I bet you’re planting drought-tolerant plants, right? 🙂 Thanks for your comments too, Kathleen! —Pam
My goodness Pam, there is a lot of popping going on in your garden. The red of the roses made your picture on the side bar pop too. Love seeing the spiny lizard. It is much different from the anoles (?) you had in the other garden. This one looks a little more sinister. It must be the spines.
Yes, these lizards do have a slightly sinister (snaky?) look about them. They’re larger than the sleek anoles of my old garden too. I guess the spiny lizards must out-compete the anoles because I have not seen one anole in this new garden. I’m happy to have either one though; they’re excellent bug-eaters. —Pam
Gotta get the salvia, agastache and pink cuphea for sure! Great pictures. I love the lizard!
I’ll be looking for seedlings to share this coming spring! —Pam
Hi Pam.
That pink cuphea goes on my list as well!
What a relaxing post Pam, just what I needed. It is easy to get consumed with work in the garden and forget to stop a while, look and listen…and today was the day to do it, amazing. I always love these clear, bright days after a front has blown through.
Never had a spiny dragon yet in the patch!
ESP.
I wonder if anoles stay on the east side of MoPac (as in your garden and my former garden) and the Texas spiny lizards have staked out the west side? —Pam
I love your roses. I have a few left here too and it’s fun to see them hanging in there.
Laura
Thanks, Laura. This is prime time for roses in Austin now that the extreme heat has moved out and we’ve gotten some rain. —Pam
Pam, It sounds a perfect day! Every time I see those gorgeous agastache…I wish for better draining soil. They look wonderfully happy in your garden. gail
So far so good, Gail, though I did lose one over the summer; it burned up. I’m moving several to sunnier spots though after watching them languish in too much shade. —Pam
Wow, Pam, beautiful photos. The lighting you captured is outstanding. I didn’t realize Agastache would do so well in your part-shade garden.
Thanks, Robin. Those in too much shade have not done much; just a few blooms here and there. But those in strong morning to midday sun have done beautifully. On the other hand, afternoon sun burns them up. —Pam
It was the perfect fall day. I had a list of things to do, and found myself spending the day just sitting outside. After the summer we had, I think we are allowed. Gorgeous blooms–I especially loved the ‘Radrazz’ Knock Out roses.
Yes, we ARE allowed. Whoo-hoo, we got though it! —Pam
I really like the whale’s tongues agave.
Thanks, Sylvana. It’s one of my faves too. —Pam
I am enjoying relaxing in your garden with you. Still dreaming about mine to be. The Texas red dirt is daunting after gardening in my old sandy loam of Georgia. I missed the free compost so I took that as the indication that I need to concentrate on finishing unpacking inside before I let myself free on the outside. So thankful you are sharing the possibilities for my spring release!
Taking your time to start will give you the time to formulate your ideas and know what you want out of your garden. No need to rush it. Dreaming is a good stage! —Pam
So nice that you are getting some “enjoy the garden weather”…and it’s reassuring to know the sun is still out there, somewhere. Reports are that we might see it on Sunday (fingers crossed). I’ve decided I need a golden barrel…
Oh, you do, Loree. Maybe even three or five. —Pam
What strikingly beautiful pictures, all. Of course I love the red roses-that shade so appeals to me. The whale’s tongue is also dramatic and lovely-now you really have me hankering after one! The pinks on the agastache are really pretty. And a rather cool looking lizard to boot.
Thanks, Nicole. I’m glad you enjoyed the lazy morning with me. —Pam
Truly beautiful photos. I love your close ups, you get a real sense of the texture of your highlighted plants. This weather is fantastic…
Thank you, Cheryl. Yes, this whole weekend was fantastic, wasn’t it? Finally! —Pam
Your roses are the perfect color against the fall sky.
Love the lizard.
Isn’t he cute? Thanks for visiting, Janet. —Pam
How lucky you are to be able to enjoy your garden most of the year. Already I can feel the pangs of gardenlust for next spring. Although I love our seasons, it would be nice to be out there still enjoying a morning like yours amongst the flowers and the bees. Instead, we had a balmy windy, spooky halloween that rattled leaves in spirals and emptied the trees of their lingering pretty leaves. Your flowers are just great. so pretty.
Thanks, Teresa. I sometimes feel a wistfulness for a “true” fall like I remember from my S.C. childhood. I do love Austin’s autumn weather though. Both have their own joys and beauty. —Pam
Oooh.. I love the photos, Pam. And I wish that I could soak up some of the sunny warmth that your pretty lizard is enjoying–the weather turned a little bit brittle here overnight last night. 🙁 By the way, are the lizards just that tame around people now, or do you have a really good zoom lens? I’m amazed at the close-up!
Usually these lizards are kind of skittish, Kim. But either they’re getting used to me or they’re really desperate to soak up the sun now that it’s gotten cooler because they’re letting me get closer nowadays. I did zoom in on this one, but I got within three feet of it. —Pam
Gorgeous captures of the clear golden autumn morning light.
Thanks, Sweet Bay. —Pam
I’m feeling kind of torn by the weather too. It’s FINALLY stopped raining and I know I need to do some gardening, but I’d rather just watch the butterflies and bees and be thankful for the good weather ahead. I like your agastaches. I grew S. madrensis in my old garden in Austin and was surprised by how large it got and how it would bloom so well in the shade. Lovely lizard you have there!
I’m glad to know that S. madrensis will take shade and still bloom. This one gets some afternoon sun. I might try it elsewhere in my garden if it can still bloom in the shade. —Pam
Your plants are positively glowing with sunlight, Pam–beautiful! This reminds me of spring. I love all the agastache; this is a plant I really want to add to my garden next year.
Enjoyed the tour of Lucinda’s garden as well; what a creative gardener! Thanks for taking us along.
My pleasure, Rose. I’m glad you enjoyed the tour. —Pam
I wouldn’t regret a minute of not working with photo results like these Pam! I am in love with that pink cuphea ~ I’m only familiar with the bat-faced one so it’s new to me but absolutely GORGEOUS. I wonder if I’ll be able to find it at my local greenhouse next summer?? I hope so! Enjoy your nice weather ~ you deserve a break from the heat that’s for sure.
Thanks, Kathleen. I wish I knew what the pink cuphea is called. I just think of it as Annie’s pink cuphea since she’s the one who gave it to me. Hopefully I’ll get volunteers next spring that I can share. —Pam
Pam, the plants seem to be as happy as we are with the changes in weather! Keep an eye on the Salvia madrensis … in my garden it seems to spread quite freely by stolons. I’ve seen it do the same in the demonstration garden at the Extension Center here. It’s such a lovely shade of yellow, though, that I’m allowing it freedom to roam for now.
Thanks for the heads-up on the salvia, Cindy. I will keep an eye on it. —Pam