My BEAUTIFUL Autumn Beauty Sunflower

 

I feel as if I just gave birth - I'm so proud. My rust-colored sunflower finally bloomed. It was a package of mixed colors and all of them so far except this one are the standard sunflower yellow. I think this is gorgeous. 

These sunflowers are only 4-5 ft. I actually think I like them better than the Russian Mammouth.  Plus they have multiple flowers to one stem. 

I have quite a few that haven't opened up yet - They are so pretty. 

See the bee? They love my sunflowers. 

I'm so glad I had the foresight to plant a later batch of sunflowers for Sept 

and hopefully lasting into October. 

They bring me so much JOY.  They've been like my little friends this summer. 

Sunday's garden update

 

This is a freebie from the birds - 

Sunflowers are even pretty from their backside. 

Anyday now - 

It may still be smoky outside but these sunflowers don't seem to be bothered by it. 

Beautiful and in spite of everything going on - I look upon them and I have to smile. 

Only a Creator God could make something so intricate yet delicate

Notice the multiple budding on one major stalk. These will be gorgeous when fully bloomed.

Hopefully tomorrow I can get out and do some cleanup. 

Waiting

 

Not as bad as it was the other day - 

still not the kind of weather I want to be out in. 

Ash is falling from the sky. 

Not good to be out breathing that all inside especially with covid19 hovering about. 

Sunflower Autumn Beauty (Helianthus Annuus) 

This Sunflower Autumn Beauty mix produces blooms ranging in colors: gold, yellow, rusty red, burgundy, and bi-colors. The blooms range in size from 5 - 10 inches in diameter. 

The blooms range in size from 5 - 10 inches in diameter. Once established, Sunflower plants are somewhat drought and heat tolerant. They will flower mid-summer through fall. Birds are attracted to the seeds.

The rest of my sunflowers are spent - I just need to get out there and harvest the seed heads. 

A smokey Saturday

 

I wanted to share this the other day - on my Red Barns post, but couldn't find my photo. 

This barn is around the corner from where I live. Having always lived in a city/metro/urban area, seeing a barn so close to me, is a thrill.  I would cry if for any reason the barn had to be torn down. 

A droopy sunflower - kinda represents how I feel these days - BLAH!

This is that other variety of sunflowers - should be blooming soon and it won't be the classic yellow.

golds, browns, and oranges. 

Stunted sunflower - 6 ft tall with a little flower. 

Yes, I know...we need to scrape and paint our trim. It won't be happening this year. 

Marigolds seem to love the heat - So pretty. 

The last day of August

 

I forget what these pretty vining flowers are called - 

They are about 3 years old and this spring, I transplanted them to a part of my front yard that has morning sun and afternoon shade and they are thriving. 

The taller sunflowers are starting to bloom but their flower head is smaller than usual. 

The raised bed has some sunflowers I planted - not the Russian Mammoth but these are a mixture - and not the yellow - they should be orange and browns.

 I've never planted this type before and I am looking forward to it. 

And hopefully, by the end of Sept, the patio will finally be completed. The husband goes back to the foot doctor on Sept 17.  Maybe a week of work...

This time last year I was busy crafting away - I had turned a room in my home, for crafts and sewing. Then my adult kids were flooded out of their apartment and lived with us for 1 month. So I packed it all up. When they left, it was close to Christmas - and then one thing led to another and I never got around to it. Then the pandemic and depression and just more excuses. 

I hope things will change for me soon. 

My pond

 

A lily or a rose never pretends, and its beauty is that it is what it is. 

Jiddu Krishnamurti

‘ Like The Water Hyacinth ‘ 

The water hyacinth 

floats with flotsam 

and refuse goes along so smooth 

 Surfs, ducks, bobs, to tide 

sunk nearly drowned but not drowned

 spin, rise, resolute 

 Down under with roots 

marine mammals, fishes kiss 

Their best sanctuary 

With the symbiosis 

I envy water hyacinth 

Just the way they are

 It just goes along 

With the nature of water 

Why not for friendship 

 Ency Bearis (c) 2011

Water lily 

beautiful it is 

but unaware 

even when fought over 

 Copyright © Solomon Ochwo-Oburu

Gardening - wood ash can be good

Due to fires that consume my state, ash and smoke fill the air, making it unsafe to go outside. 

The sun is blotted out with only an orange glow that can be seen through the haze. 

But did you know that wood ash from forest fires can actually be good? 

I was thinking, this ash falling from the sky couldn't be good for the trees and plants but I was wrong. It's not like a dump truck full of wood ash is smothering the plants and trees. 

The ashes fall and gently distributes the only good we can get out of a wildfire. HOPE! 

Our plants, trees, scrubs, and the soil,  benefit - by the added nutrients as the falling ash repairs the soil, adding potassium, and a liming effect - that reduces soil acidity. 

Not to mention a natural pest repellent. 

Forest and wildfires are devastating. I'm just trying to find some positivity by having to stay indoors. 

The end of a bad season

 

I wish I could say this little harvest of red grapes were from this year. This was last year. 

We were really hoping this year would be bigger and better. 

The husband trellised them and we trained them at first...all was looking well. 

We had the baby grapes - and then the HOT weather came, which in itself isn't abnormal,

 we just obviously didn't protect the babes. 

Then they were invaded by little white bugs - when the water would hit them, they would be hundreds of these itty bitty buys that would fly out from among the vines and swarm me. It was disgusting. 

When the temperature finally went down into 98 yesterday,  we finally whacked the vines down. 

That is it. It is done. 

They are to the side of our house - FULL sun till around 6pm or so. 

No homemade grapevine wreaths this year. 

Sunflower Heaven

 

The Tall sunflowers are starting to bloom. Because they are so tall - about 7-8 feet, they bloom toward the sun, not necessarily facing me. In fact, most of them look like they will be facing south; that's understandable, but...

"come on guys, face me."  

Same sunflower seeds - these guys decided they wanted to grow shorter and stockier. You can see where some have turned their backs to me. 

"Hey dudes and dudettes, don't forget who planted you."

What can I say? I am in Sunflower Heaven and more are coming. 

The marigolds have been growing nicely. They had a rough start a month or so ago - I lost most of them due to the high heat. The little flecks of ash you see on the leaves are from some fires south of us.  We're safe - just the way the wind and breeze have been blowing upwards our way. We have ash everywhere. 

Too early to be winding down for Autumn

By the end of the month, if not sooner, I should have many more sunflowers in bloom. 

I am frustrated to say that, the patio won't be completed until the end of Sept or the first of October. 

My husband broke his toe and is off for 5 more weeks. Oh well, we're not doing anything anyway - 

but working on the patio was keeping him productive and not bored. 

I've slacked off as well - Maybe tomorrow I will get back into the yard - 

Meanwhile, there's always laundry! 

My Happy Sunflowers

 

You plant them and wait approximately 90-100 days. 

So much can happen - the birds for one, love the little seedlings with the seed still attached. 

One plot of sunflowers I planted - I only had 34 come up. 

Every morning I would go out and count and I'd lose a couple. 

At this date, I only have 15 in this particular plot.

Doesn't this sunflower just radiate "Happy?"  

Same type of sunflower, all planted at the same time - 

some grow really tall, and others came in shorter and stockier. 

The bugs tried to annihilate my flowers before their time. 

I as, their PROTECTOR came to their defense. 

You do have to keep a daily watch on them. 

They are big and strong but in some ways, just as fragile as any smaller more delicate flower. 

New plants

I needed some filler plants - I bought these three. 

All of them were on the "clearance table" at Lowes. $3.00 each. 

The sunflowers are starting to get really big now - 

and forming their future flower. 

The other day, I found a flying beetle infestation 

covering my sunflowers. 

Used some Neem oil and so far so good. 

I placed these in a pot - If I plant them directly in the ground, they could die, due to the extreme heat. Although they are drought lovers, I still want to give them some time. 

Can't beat Petunias - 

probably not the best filler plants to have in the 105+ heat 

here in Shasta County. 

Pretty little Zinnia 

This just sprouted in my garden bed. 

Is it a weed? It is big. Is it a tree? 

BEWARE!

Apparently people all over the country are receiving FREE SEEDS from China. I haven't yet but our local news has reported a couple of people have. 

They say DO NOT PLANT THEM! 

DO NOT THROW THEM IN THE GARBAGE! 

They will end up in our landfills.