Fountain Grass Weather Report

For a second, I thought I was seeing the first frost of the fall on the fountain grass. But it was way too warm to be frost and just the morning's rain drops on gorgeous display.

Ghosts of the Season Past

Remember when the anemones were in bloom?

Early Bloomer or Late?

It's late in the year for new blooms. Something blooming late this year is probably blooming a bit on the early side. I'm pretty sure the Mahonia is listed as a late winter bloomer. It's not quite winter, though the forecast for this weekend looks pretty wintry.

Leaf of the Week

Most of the skyline is leafless now, but there are still some trees and shrubs with fall color this early December. This oakleaf hydrangea is looking pretty sweet right now.

What's Happening Outside Now?

As usual when it comes to plants, much more than you might think is possible.

At November's End

The Stewartia still has leaves,  the weather is mild and the moon is waxing.

In Lieu of Flowers...

Seedpods, which seem to be dancing in the sunlight, are appreciated. 

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

It was the weekend before Thanksgiving when I first heard Christmas music this year in a tv commercial and then in some stores tuned into lite fm stations. But certain trees were already making it look a lot like the holiday season.

On the Walk Home in the Dark, This

A Japanese Maple under a light. It doesn't take much.

What Dares to Bloom Now? Witch Hazel!

Though I tend to be impressed by most plants, I really have to give it up for one that is fierce enough to dare bloom after the first frost of the year. Our native witch hazel blooms today.

Is the Year Flying Fast or is Time Crawling?

It's still autumn in New York according to my calendar. Soon enough most of the tree canopy will be bare branches and buds, but for now leaves are still in the picture. 

Some People Read Tea Leaves

But I'm going with what the Redbuds seem to be whispering to me this morning.

White Flowers and a Blue Sky Half a Year Apart

November.

April

Playing the What Were You Game

It's the time of year to play the what were you game to see if you can identify plants by their seedheads and what remains after the growing season has ended.

After the First Frost

After the first frost it's still autumn in New York and today's weather is a little more inviting.

Focus

I think it's fair to say that I have been focusing both the camera lens and my attention on pollinators, what's blooming and grasses in autumn for some time now. This year I didn't see any green metallic sweat bees but I did run into some skippers and discovered some new-to-me butterflies in the summer.

Movement

Movement is a word that comes up frequently in articles on using grasses in garden design or landscaping, though admittedly most grass is way more graceful then this little GIF I just made.

The Light at Lunch

The first frost of the year is coming soon. But today the light at lunch was warm and bright.

Some Queen Anne's lace still blooms.

But the fountain grass deserves the spotlight as the star of the show. 

Whose Got Great Fall Color This Week?

It's been a warm fall in New York with leaf color coming on slow. But this week the temperature will fall below freezing for the first time and there is a lot more vibrant color, it seems to me. One tree with some great color right now is the crepe myrtle, a standout in all seasons.

Box of Bulbs

Because the seasons bleed into one another and spring will come next year, it's bulb planting time again.