Late Summer Garden Update

The days are getting noticeably shorter and there has been a definite chill in the air the last few mornings. The goldenrod has been in bloom for about 2 weeks, then the asters started to bloom, and now the mountain ash berries are turning orange. The weather is lovely and rather dry. A few days ago, I got to help put up hay at a friend's farm. Since I want to have a small farm of my own someday, that was quite a thrilling experience for me!
​Anyway...back to the garden!  

Mountain Ash

The nice thing about the cooler days is that the four o'clocks have been staying open until late morning, or even into the afternoon! They add so much color to the garden. I was struck by the way they contrasted with the lilies the other day...

They make wonderful pressed flowers because they hold their color so well. And of course I couldn't resist photographing them all lined up!

They are just wonderful flowers! 

Some other views of the garden...

Dwarf Queeny hollyhocks...I'm not especially fond of double-flowered hollyhocks, and will probably take these out next year, since I can't save seed from my black hollyhocks when they bloom at the same time. 

My love-lies-bleeding got off to a slow start. The plants seem taller than last year's, though. 

My David Austin Crocus rose is already blooming a second time. The trouble is, it is completely buried in nicotiana! 

Another picture of the balsam...these are the only plants that can be seen without pushing taller plants aside! 

I love my oriental lilies, but they also signal the end of summer to me, so seeing them in bloom is somewhat bittersweet. 

The vegetables are coming along nicely. There isn't really much of a need for weeding this time of the year, with all the volunteer trailing nasturtiums covering the ground! I need to find the time to make pickles one of these days!

Pumpkins...I'm growing 3 different kinds, each from a separate family, so I can save seed from all of them, even though they are growing side by side. 

And they are invading the peppers. I've been picking some Hot Hungarian Wax peppers lately, and in a couple weeks I think we'll be overwhelmed with all kinds of  peppers! 

The Dorinny Sweet corn is almost ready! 

Hope you all are enjoying what's left of summer in your gardens!