Autumn – Gardens For Goldens

When Every Leaf is a Flower

Gardening was called today on account of rain. Lots of rain.

Despite a couple days of dreariness, the trees and plants are deserving of a good soak after another very long California summer of endless blue skies.

All are bowed in gratitude for a refreshing bath.

With the skies temporarily parted, Jackson and I set out to enjoy the autumn leaves and color that cooler temperatures have finally delivered to us.

Here he is posing. Please don’t laugh at his pointy head. He has a complex about it.

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” ~Albert Camus

Now he is pretending that I don’t see him eyeing the big fat duck behind him.

Our start and stop pace for photos is confusing to him. As far as he is concerned, if you’ve seen one pretty tree – you have seen them all. Unless of course, another dog has visited it – or a squirrel sits in it.

“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.” ~Emily Bronte

Tomorrow I will head out to the Memorial Garden to monitor its progress toward winter. Between showers and other duties, I hope to add a little more to the mulch pile. Over Thanksgiving, we plan to get spring bulbs in. Another California advantage – planting bulbs until December.

“Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile.” ~William Cullen Bryant

Enjoy the color while you can. Winter waits behind it.

Signs of Fall

“For man, autumn is a time of harvest,

of gathering together.

For nature, it is a time of sowing,

of scattering abroad.” – Edwin Way Teale

Fall has finally arrived at the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden.

Indian Summer: Autumn Mosaic

“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.”
–S. Horowitz

Camping was cool relief, but I’m not quite ready to give up the warmth for winter yet – so nothing beats returning from the foggy ocean to Indian summer in the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden.

Cool morning temperatures provide the motivation for chores: mowing grasses, moving trees, adding fall color,

and fixing bunny-chewed drip lines (thank you, Maria!)

Warm afternoons are a good time to be lazy and bask in the colors of early autumn,

capture a few garden surprises,

and just enjoy the company of dogs.

Dog walker visits to the garden climb as the temperatures drop. It seems that everyone wanted to be out walking today. Thurman was up early with his cute freckled nose…

Polite Wee Bow…

and Hank…

and the enthusiastic, Big Boy.

Dusty was hugging up on Maria;

until one of our favorite duos, Marie and Mosh stole the show (Marie is a bit of a ham for the camera!);

while Roxie appears to have created a special connection with a family looking to fill the void left by a beloved companion. I heard a happy rumor that paperwork was being worked on as I left.

Rob asked for photos of Buster, who is always a little bit too busy with his ball to put on a smile. Look…no ball! We’re making progress.

And later this week, I’ll post an update on Hunter – the older Golden that you might remember from the Hunter’s Beauty post.

We met Susan and Jeff today; our Tree Circle gardeners.

They planted some more tri-color Jasmine among others, and plan a bed of pansies that will add color late into the fall, refreshed in early spring.

Mike and Jody were moving trees. Making a permanent home for the Orchid Tree.

They relocated a fruitless Mulberry and added a Crape Myrtle. The clay soil is more than a little tough going in spots (I think I heard the mention of a jack hammer!) but it’s a good time to get them in and established before the winter.

BTW, Maria gets full credit for people photos! I had to call for support, being a little plant and dog obsessed. Until next weekend…