A Well-Watered Garden

Autumn rain makes the colors so bright and beautiful. The falling, bright colored leaves seem like a celebration. The Hickories are turning bright gold:  The Burning Bush on the west side of the house is slowly being painted scarlet:  The shrub roses adorn themselves with raindrop pearls: The Hostas drink all the water they can by gathering with their big jungle leaves and storing it deep into their root systems: The Hydrangeas' fall colors shimmer in the rain. Muted pink, purple, and green pastels blend into each other, looking like organza dresses at an old-fashioned ice cream social:  The crabapples look good enough to eat. But we know better.  The Hickories and Oaks live in harmony, celebrating Autumn together.

It's Labor day, and nature is beginning to produce the fruits of all its Labor this summer. Thinking about all the work that's gone into producing a single berry - growth of flowery blossoms, all the bees and hummingbirds that pollinated them, the constant photosynthesis working 24 hours a day. I bet it doesn't seem much like work to the birds, bees, and trees. There is joy behind it all. Old Glory waving in the front archway:  Cucumbers and Tomatoes - still harvesting.  Cross section of one of the beefsteaks. It tastes as good as it looks:  Acorns from the Oak in front:  Shagbark hickory nuts. Anyone know good things to do with them?  Crabapples:  This shrub has gorgeous flowers in early summer, and sage-colored leaves. Now beautiful orange berries. I haven't identified it yet. Anyone know what it is?  We grew only 6 stalks of corn and had all the ears for dinner the other night. A white corn. Happy Labor Day All!!!