Wednesday Vignette: Frost!

Frost in the garden is such a beautiful thing. It is sparkly and fun to photograph but, more importantly, it is hardening off my plants.  Weather predictions suggest that we are going to have a mild winter due to El Nino. But, you never really know and I want my garden ready for colder weather. I'm crossing my fingers for a snow storm or two this winter.

Have you had a hard frost in your garden yet? Remember to head on over to my friend Anna at Flutter and Hum to see her WV and the other participating bloggers. Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday Vignette: Orange Leaves

Last night, a wind storm roared through the yard. The gutters overflowed like a water fountain while the airplanes thundered over our house on their storm path to landing at the Portland Airport. I lit candles just to prepare for a possible power outage. The Assistant trembled behind the chair and Barnaby kept pawing at the door for me but then refused to walk through the veil of rain. I comforted myself with a cup of hot tea and edited my fall foliage photos.

Tall Stewartia seed head

The Tall Stewartia has really been strutting her stuff. Last fall, Barnaby dug up a third of the root ball and I thought that it was a goner. But, it has survived and is positively glowing. I'm relieved that it has made it.

Coral Bark Japanese Maple leaves

One of our three Coral Bark Japanese Maples decided to turn orange this year, even though they normally turn gold. This morning, most of the leaves were gone. Fortunately, I have this shot to remember the moment. What moments of beauty are you savoring in your garden?  

Please drop on by the hostess of the Wednesday Vignette, Anna at Flutter and Hum, to see her latest vignette and everyone else's!

A Great Horned Owl Moves Into the Garden

This Spring, we added a new shade structure to the East side of the back garden. We built it out of Restoration Juniper landscape timbers from Sustainable Northwest Wood and topped it with an old metal propagation table. We installed a quarter-minus gravel patio underneath the structure. And I was finally able to use the free adirondack chairs that I had found on the side of the road and had been storing in the garage. My Pirate built a table to connect the two chairs and we refinished them with a coat of lime paint. The total project cost less than $300. 

the back garden on a June morning

I was thrilled with how our new project turned out. And we used the space, until someone new moved into the garden and started making a mess.

Come take a seat.

Or not.

An owl pellet hanging on the propagation table roof with fur and bones sticking out of it.

In July, owl pellets and whitewash rained down on our new shade structure. We felt like targets sitting in the chairs, so we abandoned the space and hoped that the owl would move on. Listening to owl calls, I learned that a Great Horned Owl had joined us. I've heard them in the backyard for years. I'm really happy to have a new resident that likes to eat moles and rodents.

Owl art 

                                          Part of the view from the shade structure in August

During my research, I found an educational owl pellet video and started singing the little ditty to My Pirate. He wasn't impressed, but maybe you'll enjoy it and sing along.

Here's a Great Horned Owl calling out. I love listening to them.  

So, next spring we're going to add a galvanized steel roof to the shade structure that will match our main pergola. In all of my planning, I never considered an owl moving in right about the structure and turning us into targets for whitewash and owl pellets. Gardening is an adventure that never fails to entertain and amuse me.

What critters live in your garden?

                                          looking East through the pergola in August

Wednesday Vignette: Autumn Leaves

On sunny autumn days, the back garden shimmers with gold. I love watching the sunlight filter through the layers and colors of the canopy. The garden spiders are continuing to hunt. And I'm already making plans for next year's garden. 

Spider on a Coral Bark Japanese Maple

Don't forget to go visit Anna at Flutter and Hum to see her weekly vignette and everyone else participating in the midweek fun!

Wednesday Vignette: Teamwork

A couple of weeks ago, My Pirate surprised me by asking for a Mahonia media 'Underway' to fill a gap in our back garden. I raced over to Yard 'n Garden Land to purchase one for him. I smiled to myself as he kept moving it back and forth trying to find the perfect place before he planted it.

A week later, he hollered over his shoulder as he stepped out the back door that he was going to go plant 'his' plant. Barnaby assisted him while I snuck a couple of quick pictures of them on my phone.

Barnaby double checked the hole depth and sampled the water.

Then they relaxed with me on the patio.  It's important to take time to enjoy the garden. Don't you agree?

Go see the rest of the Wednesday Vignettes at my friend Anna's blog, Flutter and Hum!