The Last Flowers and Cleaning Gardens for Fall - by Sunscape

With Fall in full swing with rainy, cool days, it is time to trim back the rest of the flowers blooming in the gardens. I've been cleaning out each area a little each day, since my lower back and right hip are uncomfortable doing too much at one time.

The Brugmansia by the large trellis is still blooming so well, that it will be sad to see it cut back and brought inside for the winter.

If you've never had the pleasure of experiencing the marvelous scent of a Brugmansia flower in the early morning and evening, you are missing out. The bumblebees absolutely go crazy gathering pollen when the flowers open in the morning.

I have these snapdragons on the west side of the back porch, since the cooler days arrived, they have re-bloomed and are another flower the bees adore.

I waited all summer for them to look this good, then Mika heard a chipmunk squeak, and she toppled most of the over. Now, that they succumbed to the chase, I pulled them all out as well.

The green beans in the tower garden are still producing a few every day. I put up four packages for the freezer just this week. Not bad for a few plants! Does anyone know if the strawberry plants in the right tower need to be covered for winter survival? This is my first time growing them, and I'm uncertain.

It was time to harvest all the sweet potatoes and the last of the yellow potatoes in the raised beds. The nights are cold enough for light frosts, so it was time to get that job done.

Mika was of course on the job supervising as I started cutting out all the vines.

Here she is sniffing out a carrot, which by the way are her favorite veggie.

Sometime this week I hope to harvest them while my brother is here and get them all prepped for the freezer.

The last zucchini of the season. I can't believe I still got one more with the poor shape of the vine after the borer got it. It will be cooked for a meal this week for sure.

The butterfly garden is totally done, except cutting back the flowers on the Limelight Hydrangea. I think I can let them stay on for a couple more weeks or so.

All the Hosta and ferns around the base of the porch got cut back. It looks so bare now.

Break time with Mika on the porch in the afternoon has been the best part of summer, in my opinion.

She looks forward to watching all the critters every day while we enjoy a quiet afternoon. She is going to miss sitting out there with me once the weather changes.

She snuggles in between my legs for a little naptime while I read. Pretty soon we will be snuggling on a cozy couch inside by the fireplace. It is always a transition time for me, trying to find things to do in the house to keep busy. I'm going to take time to organize and declutter what I no longer use. I was inspired by Pam's dedication going through all the areas of her home over @goldenoakfarm. Now, I just need to get started on mine.

Have a great week everyone and enjoy whichever season you are having.