Hello, October

An eclectic mix basking on the front steps. Under Bananarama, which has grown by leaps and bounds all summer, Sun Gold tomatoes have woven themselves through the avocado, the begonia and the pelargonium. Strawberries drip down the steps, and a jade plant shares a pot with an amaryllis.

Octoroot

Tomatoes Gone Wild

Birdie

Alien Alien II This one we just call "Pedro"

How tall IS that?!

What is this, a rogue sunflower on steroids?

"Autumn Glory" in August

Sungolds growing up the brick pillar by the front steps.

Now THAT'S an "accent table"

Orange has never been my color for anything, but this table is just the size we wanted, and it was on sale, and it looks nice with sunflowers.

Bang for the Buck

This unnamed Angelwing begonia was a buck fitty impulse buy off the rack in front of Ace Hardware. You know, one of those sale racks right in front of the door stacked with overgrown, yellowing plants tugging at your heartstrings like puppies at the pound. In this case, $1.50 well spent.

Bring on the Butterflies

My garden vision has always included a big butterfly bush in the corner. The first one was ordered from Burpee's catalogue, and I was in denial for weeks that it was DOA. Meanwhile, I kept searching the local nurseries for another one, and finally hit paydirt at the Gray Barn in Redmond. The tag says this color is "Royal Red," but it looks more like a pinkish purple.