Post Frost

The first week of October, I awoke to some wilty sweet potato vines:

 

which could only mean one thing-- frost! So I got some pictures of the rest of the garden and gathered up some zinnias for some last bouquets, and the next morning the yard was encrusted with water crystals, and that first hard frost did away with the rest of our tender, cold-fearing plants. 

zinnias, planted late so didn't get seeds, but eventually got lots of nice flowers

 

I spent almost all of the beautiful Fall weather sitting inside, looking out at this, half asleep and nursing a baby

last zinnia bouquet of 2014

 

shelling Christmas lima beans

peak color behind the house

after frost; zinnias and sunflowers crisped to brown

still looking good

walking up the drive; sun going down and shining on the bluff behind the house

 And just to show the progression of the Fall season:

mid September

pre-frost October

post-frost October

 Today, Mike collected the seeds from his sunflower heads, including this giant one:

And I took some pictures around the front yard. It reached almost 70 degrees today; just perfect weather, and I think it really will be one of the very last comfortable-in-short-sleeves days we will have this year.

rose

barberry

green grass

scabiosa (pincushion flower)- who knew they looked so good this time of year!

color and texture- dianthus and coral bells

kid in the garden

violas

I'm very thankful to have had nice weather all the way up until now. Some years there's talk of snow already at the end of October, so this has been fantastic! Even though we didn't get outside in the warmth and Fall colors much, and Mike's farmer's market season ended early to focus on the new family addition, we still got to enjoy it all from the windows and on the occasional walk outside. I hope you get some time to enjoy it and jump in the leaves once for us!