The Park Next Door

Summer Blooms Heading Into Fall

8/31/2023

It's the last day of August. Not the last day of summer. Fall doesn't officially begin until September 22. Three weeks from now. But the past few days have been on the cooler side, and some of the blooms are starting to fade. It's hard not to jump on the autumn train. Out on some of my most recent nature walks I've started to notice a few colorful leaves here and there.

But there's plenty of summer left to behold as well. The temps are expected to rise this Labor Day weekend, so it's going to feel like summer again. And, finally, some of the seeds I sowed late in the season are teasing me with buds ready to burst into flower any day now. The anticipation!

There's still so much green everywhere. I've enjoyed making bouquets from what's growing in my garden. Something new for me. It's become quite addictive. A fun challenge to go out most days and create a vase of color to enjoy or share. If what's coming really does bloom, it will be a feast for these novice gardener's eyes.

Just a bit of fall color peeking through...

This has been a summer with a little less adventure, and more experimentation. We have been working on our garden since we bought this house nearly five years ago, and I have made a lot of planting mistakes. Our neighbor has a very large black walnut tree, and it bears a good deal of fruit in the fall. The neighborhood squirrels love it. As do we. But, I recently learned that many plants and flowers do not survive when planted within 50-75 feet of a black walnut tree. There's a natural compound called juglone that the black walnut tree produces. There are many plants, shrubs, and other trees that are sensitive to this compound and struggle to survive. This at least solves some of the mystery as to why so many of my plantings never return after one summer. Who knew? Well, not me, obviously. But now I do, and I intend to do some research and find the right plants for that garden spot for next year. Maybe I'll even do some seed sowing this fall. Not something I've ever considered before.

So, a bit of online research, pouring over gardening books and magazines, and a lot of YouTube videos have kept me occupied many nights this summer. And I'm looking forward to putting to use what I have learned for next spring.

But it's a long time until spring. Sure, we get to travel through the beauty of fall. And winter has its beauty, too. But who am I kidding? Winter lasts a long time here in Wisconsin.

So, I'm going to have to find a way to keep my spirits up. Nature walks will help, of course. And I'm going to try to forage for some colorful alternatives to fresh flowers for arrangements to brighten the days. Fall leaves will definitely fit the bill. I'm kind of excited, actually, to take on the challenge. Looking out at the garden I can see plenty of things that might bring some cold season beauty indoors.

And, since I planted so many of my flowers late, perhaps I'll have blooms into October, maybe beyond. Unless...

Of course, there are other things to do. Perhaps all of the things I should have gotten done inside over the summer will take priority as the cooler days settle in. I'm liking the idea of forcing blooms inside, too. Not something I would have considered even just a year ago.

In the meantime, I'm going to try and enjoy these last days of summer. Savor them as best I can. Because once fall truly arrives, I can tell you, I'm all in.

Sowed late, and finally starting to bloom!

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Welcome Winged Ones

8/25/2023

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A female green darner dragonfly takes a rest in our summer garden.

A green darner dragonfly blending in with garden foliage.

I noticed them last evening. Once the extreme heatwave had passed, brought on in part by a quick moving storm, the temperature dropped and the sky cleared. I went out to survey the backyard garden habitat, looked up, and there they were. Swarms of green darner dragonflies, swirling overhead. Back and forth over the backyard. Skimming the treetops, then swooping down lower over the garden patches, and birdbaths. No doubt feasting on the bugs brought out by the summer rain.

Earlier this summer one of these beauties surprised me as I was watering one of the raised bed flower gardens. I nearly watered the dragonfly itself, it was blending in so well. But the glistening of its wings caught my eye, and I stopped short. I greeted it, and asked it to "just wait there". Quick grabbed my phone and camera to take a few photos. It was resting, and seemed in no hurry to move on. Once I had taken a few photos I went back to watering the thirsty blooms, checking back periodically to see if it was still there. It hung around awhile. But, eventually, it moved on. Yesterday, I think it returned. With friends. Today, under cloudy, but cooler skies, they are back again. Swirling in and out of view. Rather calming to watch.

A couple years back, after our first summer in this house, we were outside working in the yard, and looked up to see thousands of green darners flying overhead. They were deep into fall migration, and we were lucky enough to witness it. I've been hoping for another opportunity ever since. Maybe their recent visits are a good sign.

I haven't been out in the parks and on the trails as much as I'd like this summer. I've had other responsibilities, and have dedicated a good portion of my time to cultivating our yard into a lively wildlife habitat. I'm going to take the dragonfly sightings as a sign that we are having some success.

There's a bit of magic in the winged creatures that visit our backyard. Although spring migration visitors were scarce this year, we have had regular visitors over the summer. Along with an occasional warbler or two.

There is a female ruby-throated hummingbird who has been a regular for the past several summers, and she has been back this year. Once in a while another hummingbird stops by, but she doesn't much like to share. She is a beauty, and I plant a lot of flowers in an attempt to make her happy.

Once in a while, I will be out watering the garden, or photographing some of the blooms, and I will hear a buzz nearby. More than a few times I have turned to see her within inches of my face, just hovering in front of me. "Hi!" I exclaim. I'm not sure what I expect her to say in return.

In any case, every time, every single time, she visits, it's like the first time. A complete, breathless thrill. They were my mom's favorite bird. She always put out hummingbird feeders at her apartment, and little hummingbird trinkets and ornaments. Ever since she passed away, anytime I see a hummingbird, I feel as if she is sending a greeting. Fleeting though it might be. It's a bit of magic in the everyday.

A female ruby-throated hummingbird is a regular summer visitor in our garden.

The good news is our little ecosystem is expanding. This year we have had lots of butterflies, bumbles and other bees, fireflies, and crickets. Even grasshoppers, a first for us.

And the sounds...Cicadas buzzing on a hot day, crickets singing at night, robins calling at sunrise, chickadees, too. Splendid examples of nature's tune. Proof that if you plant it, they will come.

No matter how difficult my day, if I am able to sit outside on the patio in the evening, and absorb the sounds and sights of the garden, I can find a sense of calm. And a sense of accomplishment, too.

What I'm hoping for now, is that my late-planted flowers bloom. That our faded flowers provide plenty of food for the birds as they migrate this fall, and that they stop by to visit this time. We really missed them in the spring.

In the meantime, I wonder who else might show up for a visit? Only time will tell.

A fledgling robin exploring the habitat.

Hello, Grasshopper!

Welcome to the habitat, Swallowtail.

A sweat bee gathering pollen on a blooming dahlia.

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Summer Blooms Heading Into Fall

Welcome Winged Ones

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