summer garden gives way to fall

In between the lantern flies (so annoying) gardening did occur. Contributions from friends and relatives, volunteer seedlings, and work with the promising Community Garden across the street made for a startlingly abundant season in unexpected ways.

Highlight additions this summer were moonflower bushes: bushes?? who knew there were such bushes, mine have always been vines. But luckily my secrect garden source and super expert had scooped these seeds up from a road side site and had enough to share. Generously dug in on the far side of the house, I look forward to seeing how these fill in among iris, fig, wisteria and more. Fingers crossed, spiky seed pods are everywhere. These glowing blooms are second only to this years addition of a nice sized redbud ‘flamethrower’ salvaged from a northern New Jersey library property where it had been ravaged by deer. Establishing here in a protective basket, we’ll see what spring brings when we hope to tailor this drama queen to grow into a featured spot in the front garden.

Meanwhile, we pray for praying mantis explosion to help manage the creepy insect invasion. They must be tasty to a variety of birds and bugs… the ecosystem will spread the word.