Oh Deer!

There is evidence we've had some deer sized guests. I decided against posting the FIRST evidence I found (on the ground).

Now they are just getting careless! There are hoof prints at the bottom of the photo, a partially eaten apple to the right, and oh, yes, the broken birdbath/planter! We're heard a doe & a buck have been sighted.

SAGBUTT Tour October

Aerie-el arranged for quite the SAGBUTT tour today. Now just how far outside of Seattle did we go??

The nursery cafe was closed today, but it must be the center of activity in season! I could see spending a summer afternoon sitting at the outdoor tables (it is a bring your own coffee & pie kind of place).

... And after the world tour, we reached the Lake Wilderness Arboretum, in Maple Valley, Washington. A beautiful and dry day, too!

More of the unexpected...Clerodendrum trichotomum, Peanut Butter Tree. Rubbing the leaves reveals a peanut butter aroma, and check out the jelly colors to go along with it.

I liked the lacy design of this deciduous fir tree (as I understood). Perhaps the others will share the correct name. Our patient volunteer tour guide quickly adapted to our classic SAGBUTT touring style. Always ready to wonder off to any plant or blogger photo opportunity that calls.

But, of course, regrouping for some garden harvest sharing! Here, nicely set in in the Arboretum nursery area (and also the home of the world class fence/shed in the first two photos).

Tasty garden treats from Aeriel-el, Wingnut & Curmudgeon!

More of the covered potting area in the nursery. What a handy area!

I'll add the links of others who are likely to have captured more of the actual plant collections.

Thanks, Aeriel-el & SAGBUTTees, for a nice day out!

Post Frost

While I was traveling, DH harvested these pumpkins. There are still some on what's left of the frosted vines. DH didn't want these to get frost bitten while I was off getting poison ivy bitten! In the greenhouse, the twigs of basil-past will be traded out for some lettuce plantings.

The garden, as it was last night.

Happy October

This is a reminder of the beautiful weather we had last week. This week has been different!

Here's Emily harvesting her catnip.

This came from some mixed sunflower seeds. It is the first time I've had one like this. Under all that fluff is a full sunflower seedhead! I didn't expect that.

I'll be away from the keyboard for some days. I'm looking forward to catching up with you then. And you know you'll be seeing Petunia's Pumpkins soon!

Forest Garden

Today: Rattlesnake Ridge, DH & Visitor.

It is a very nice hike through the forest. As it gets closer to the top, the trail does become more steep (or else we were more tired!). And a little geocache hunting. No, they didn't have to move anything. They are just looking from all angles!

Guest Sunflower

During our visit to Seattle yesterday, we saw that many downtown residents are quite the balcony gardeners. However, for this building in Belltown, this sunflower had the show to himself, at least as far as I could see from street level.

Welcome New Geocacher

We have a visitor this week. On her first day, she was introduced by DH to some local geocaches. Other than this one being a big bug, it seems to have been a successful first day out!

I was fascinated with this slug munching clover along the trail. Guess he reminds me of seeing goats and sheep standing on their hind feet to reach the (apparently) more tasty treats overhead.

I'll have some photos from the SAGBUTT arboretum tour later. There was lots of tree inspiration going!

Bloom Day September

It is Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. You can find links to many more blooms from her site. Nicotiana and calendula make a nice accidental combination, above.

Here is one of the very, very tall sunflowers growing in the pumpkin patch.

Cosmos, also in the pumpkin patch. You can see a little of a pumpkin in the background.

This is Tip Top Alaska Nasturtium. Notice the varigated foliage. These are compact plants that can be in a variety of colors. I only ended up with this orange one this year.

Black-eyed Susans / Rudbeckia and Echinacea are still the happiest garden residents.

These are some of my flavorites. I really like this time of year (especially when we still have some of these very nice days around) and these bloomers help keep it quite bright.

Sept 20th SAGBUTT - See You There!

The Seattle Area Garden Bloggers United To Talk is planning a trip to Seattle's Washington Park Arboretum this Sunday, Sept. 20th. We're meeting for the standard 11 am guided walk which starts from the Graham Visitors Center, 2300 Arboretum Drive East, in Seattle. The tour may last 60 to 90 minutes. Then, we'll probably find a spot to chat about all things gardening & blogging.

Here's the link for the the tour information. There is also a tour at 1pm.

Thanks to the Gardeness over at Garden Muse for scoping out the options and organizing this visit! Click on the SAGBUTT label, below, to see more posts about our gatherings.

Pumpkins!

There are 4 or 5 of these large, quite orange pumpkins in the pumpkin patch. I think they are a jack-o-lantern type. The small sugar pumpkins are still green. Yes, powdery mildew has arrived.

Rouge Vif d'Etampes still working on their full color.

Looking forward to pumpkin pie!