Savior of the Garden

The flowers of summer are gone.  If it weren't for the Rudebeckia, there would be no color in the yard--the Rudebeckia and the Zinnias.  The seeds for the Zinnias were started late, so instead of the plants finishing off the season now, they are just now getting their second and third blossoms.  In spite of the wind and the rain, they are blooming, blazing and brilliant all over the yard.

Dried Zinnia

This is the third generation of seeds from a single gifted plant two years ago.  Last fall I saved the most developed bloom of the most Righteous Red I could find in the yard.  All winter the wad of brown, twisted shards dried and waited.

Arrow-shaped seed still attached to the dried petal

Then finally it showed up on the list of Things I get to do today:  extract the seeds.  In that process, the Zinnia held a surprise for me:  the seeds were attached to the petals!  I know little about Zinnias except that their intensely brilliant color thrills my soul.  I certainly never knew this.

Among the beans

The odd, shard-like seeds found soil, sprouted into seedlings, and then were tucked into all the places of bare earth around the yard and garden.  And now the payback!  On a grey, rainy day, Righteous Reds reign as the savior of the season.

Lining the front walk.

Nature's Arrangement

The top broke off in the middle of summer.  Rudebeckia has brittle stems that often don't support its heady show of flowers.  In September the remaining fat stalks were cut and thrust into a large vase for a  patio party arrangement.

Urgent Things I get to do today brought me into the yard/garden to tidy up before the rain made it impossible.  That's when I noticed the lovely contrast arranged by Nature herself.  She used the wind to drive the last few remaining spikes of Rudebeckia into the Beauty Berry.  The berries are not yet fully colored and usually miss being mixed with flowers in any arrangement.  But Nature knows best.

Bee Crazy

A random "weed" fennel that was
allowed to carry on

Most of the showy flowers of summer have fled from the stage.  The honey bees were in love with many of them.  As my yard became less and less diverse in blooms, I wondered what the honey bees would do.

Missy Pollen Britches on the right is loaded to go

And then one morning quite early when Things I get to do today had taken me on a tour of the Northwest corner, I found that the fennel was all a-buzz.  A gentle, relaxing breath filled my body and found its release in knowing that those wonderfully resourceful honey bees will always know where to find nectar and pollen for their hive.

Breakfast is served!

The current bee favorites beyond the fennel are the gloriously generous flowers of rudebeckia and hardy geranium. Check your yard right now for fall flowers that bees love.  As long as we all grow a crazy variety of interesting plants and flowers, we will contribute to colony strength and order.  Bee (be) crazy.