Little Bit Of Fall Color At The Cottage Dome

I'm determined to have a wonderful garden despite

the many setbacks of this season, one of which I

haven't mentioned before is MOLES. I have two

cats that have managed to catch only one. I don't really

want to put out poison, so I just watch daily has

they shred the grass and garden. 

The okra is starting to wind down. Still harvesting a few.

Okra flower

I thought this Dianthus had died - guess not- looks pretty now.

Coleus

I know cantaloupe is getting bad press right now - but I thought
this was neat how it is growing up the fence - it grew from seed
out of the compost pile. I will probably feed it
to the rabbit on the other side of the fence.

Abraham Darby has survived the extreme heat and drought.

This photo doesn't do justice to this canna. It
looks really beautiful today. I started this from a piece
given to me by my father-in-law early in the year.

I'm extending flower garden - part of  this is
a newly dug area. I also took a couple of dying
Elaeagnus shrubs from the front yard and
transplanted them here. See the twiggy shrub in
background on the right?

I put the potted Fireworks purple fountain grass in the ground. I
also transplanted a few of the Firehouse nandina here also.

I've been dividing iris and daylilies also.

The Graham Thomas rose has survived the drought and heat. It
has almost doubled in size.

Firehouse Nandina

Rethinking Living Fence

Well - I've lost nearly all the "living fence" shrubs due to the extreme drought here in Texas. I thought when I planted the Elaeagnus that they could survive without much rain. I guess high temperatures and no rainfall were more than they could take. I noticed around town that the large established ones are dead also. Now, what to replace them with - maybe privet? This blog was suppose to be about transformation - little did I know that the transformation was not forthcoming. But as a gardener there is hope. Maybe the transformation will be - but not this year. 

Hello From Coronado, CA

I am out in California visiting with my daughter. It is a paradise here.

 It is so nice to be away from

hot Texas. I hope you enjoy these photos.

Looking across the harbor towards San Diego.

There are quaint cottages all over the island.

Unusual trees all over the island.

Orange tree

Lime tree.

Hydrangea

Living in Texas, I've never seen a daylily blooming in September.

Double flowering Hibiscus

Unknown flower

Bird of Paradise - This is growing all over the island.

Beautiful roses surrounding entrance to harbor. 

Flowers are growing out of this courtyard window.

Beautiful courtyard

Roses everywhere, and so beautiful.

Historic Hotel Del Coronado.

The beach

This looked like jewelry hanging off the tree.

Another beautiful hibiscus.

Tree looks like a snake to me.

I don't know what these are, but very striking.

Looks prehistoric

More beautiful roses.

Love this tall tree.