November 2009

November is pretty much the first month we can look forward to in the fall season where the rainy days will out-number the sunny ones. The first couple of days of November this year weren't too bad though. And, we haven't seen any frost as yet at ground level, although we have seen frost on the roofs this fall already, particularly those clear nights. While the dropping temperatures are sending all the perennials into senescence, there still are some late season hangers-on that continue to show us some flowers. Such as our hardy Fuchsia bush for example. While I certainly didn't notice it at the time I pressed the shutter, after I'd offloaded to pictures from the camera to the computer and had a closer look at the shots I'd taken that day, I spotted a Lacewing on one of the flowers..... And they're not the only insects still active, I've also seen aphids on some Hostas.

While there is ample evidence with the reds, browns and yellows you see all around the garden to remind you winter is not far off, there are inital reminders as well of the spring that will follow winter. The first of the Dutch Iris are poking their heads up, and I noticed one of the Hellebores has buds breaking ground already.

A good many of the Hostas are having their seedpods pop open to expose the bounty within. This is but one of them, don't ask which one though.....

It isn't just the Fuchsia magellanica that is still in bloom, Dicentra 'Luxuriant' has been in flowers for quite a bit longer. Since early May if I remember correctly. Just like the Early Dutch Honeysuckle, it too still has flowers and covers about the same long blooming period as this Fuchsia.

There is a brief time frame where a good many Hostas have a wonderful gossamer-like appearance to their leaves. Here is one of this year's acquisitions, 'Rainforest Sunrise'.

You can see the effect a bit better in this crop of the image above.