Monday, November 14, 2016

Winter is Coming--When?

If you are a Game of Thrones fan, you will know that winter is coming in Season 7 next spring and that won't bode well for those folks living in that fantasy land.

Here in Northern Colorado, we are asking ourselves when will it really be winter? Right now, solstice grooving with the solstice, we are slowly edging toward winter, but Lady Autumn and Jack Frost don't always pay attention to the tipping of Earth's axis or its spinning or its trip around the sun. Their capriciousness leads us down the garden path in so many ways. Follow me today down my garden path and you will see what I mean.


It is mid-November and roses are still blooming. Gertrude Jekyll who quietly withdrew her blooms weeks and weeks ago brought forth this beauty. My little super market specials, roses that were on the sale rack, have bloomed all summer long, relentlessly and they continue.


Veteran's Honor made it nearly to Veteran's Day last week, but Jack Frost has been gently nibbling around her edges.


There are blooms in the center circle, too. This sea pink stopped blooming in the late spring.  I think the little girl is very confused as to the season. She should be storing food for her winter's nap, but I think she thinks that it is spring. NOT.


Another late bloomer, a rudbeckia brightness up the otherwise lifeless landscape.


The mallows have the proper approach to fall color.




Does the hollyhock forest look like it is going dormant?


Nor do the hollyhocks about by the barn. Instead of winter berries, we will have hollyhocks for the holidays.


The boys are basking in the warm sun. Sun Dance wakes up and begins talking softly to me, sweetly nickering, and I know what he wants. He wants out in the pasture. "Open the gate, please," he says.



I walk away to get a better photos of the blooms by the barn door and he calls louder, a bit more demanding. "Pleeeaassse?"


 By the time I leave the barn, his whinny pierces the cool, fall morning air. Translated, I am sure he is scolding me for not opening the gate, something like, "Hey I am starving here. Those dry pellets you call food don't fill a big guy's belly. I need food, real food." He continues to whinny at me, as I get further way, "Winter's coming, you know. I need to bulk up."

I laugh. Sun Dance, I think you are bulky enough." 

And so that's how it is this fine day at the Garden Spot. Warm, sunny, pleasant, happy.  I wish the same for you in your garden. Have a great week and thanks so much for visiting.






12 comments:

  1. Such a surprise to see what you have in bloom still - this year has been kinda weird weather wise hasn't it. Oh I don't know how you can ignore Sundance asking to be let into the paddock - so sweet :). Have a good week my friend.

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  2. Crazy weather patterns everywhere. No wonder the plants are confused! I have a few late bloomers too, hated to cut them down while still blooming, but all my beds are now covered and ready for winter. I'M not ready, but my gardens are! Have a nice week.

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  3. There's always a few late blooming stragglers in my garden at this time of the year too, a couple of roses coming through with a last hurrah and the nasturtiums just won't give up!
    Lucky you to have a chap like Sundance greeting you in the morning, what a lovely way to start the day.
    Have a great week,
    Maggie

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  4. Hello, I love your roses and late bloomers. I guess this is like an Indian Summer for you? Enjoy! Poor Sun Dance is hungry, he is cute. Enjoy your day and the week ahead!

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  5. Hello,Ann
    Your roses and late bloomers are so lovely!The ninth photo captured my eyes. I like the horse in the barn looking at you. So sweet!!!!Enjoy your new week!

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  6. I know what you mean! It's so warm!
    Yes, let's get together soon! Before the snows come - if they come!

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  7. Lovely lovely trip around your garden - what beautiful flowers so late in the season. We have had very wet weather here in the Pacific Northwest but some things are still blooming and we've not had a frost yet. We rarely get snow so that is normal here - just snow on the mountains. Have a lovely week.

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  8. Isn't it crazy with the flowers still blooming? My roses don't seem to want to stop and even after several frosts the swiss chard keeps putting out new leaves.

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  9. We finally got hit here, and autumn has arrived. Heavy frost all week means that the most everything is gone from the garden now. However, the snapdragons simply scoff at the cold. And the warm weather lasted so long that my nigella bloomed again, and those are also laughing at the cold!

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  10. Flowers are blooming so late here, too. And I even spied some hellebore buds - much too early. Weird, that's what it is. Great photos of your lasting blooms.

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  11. Such beautiful and fun photos, Ann! The one of Sun Dance calling you from behind the hollyhocks is priceless. I remember your Veteran's Honor rose because of its wonderful colour. Your winter does look like our summer. :)
    We had one week of beautiful winter weather, but it went away and the dark autumn came back. It's time for the candles and fairy lights!
    Have a happy week!

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