I've always believed in taking the road less traveled, but lately I've been thinking of it as the scenic route, because that sounds like you'd meet a lot more plants. Plus, I'm way behind on everything lately and that sounds like a good excuse--I've been taking the scenic route!
Plus, the scenic route ties into the idea of focusing on the here and now (thank you, Cheryl!), not dwelling in the past or fidgeting about the future. And I like to take in what's here and now, savor it, appreciate it. For example, this is the only one of my three 'Spitfires' still blooming. I'd rather focus on it than the ones that died. Look how intense the color is and how the foliage looks like little lily pads!
And bless its heart, it's still budding!
And as long as we're standing together in my fall garden, check out my beautyberry (Callicarpa americana). Its berries are more striking than normal this year.
Is there any question how it got its name?!
My rogue queen of the prairie (Filipendula rubra) should have bloomed in early July, but it also took the scenic route. Eggplant 'Black Beauty' is still kickin' it and cheering Fili on.
Let's cross the street to my kitty-corner neighbors' house (hi, Jim & Nancy!). Do you see something special in their huge, gorgeous red maple?
Now you do! If I'd've been driving by too fast, I wouldn't have seen it.
My tomatoes are done, and I've been collecting seeds. I left these 'Tiger-Like' (which are soooooo good!) soaking too long and they sprouted in the water! And turned fuzzy, noogie! So while the seeds are no longer good for saving and planting later, I decided to sow the sprouted ones indoors now and see what happens. Maybe I'll have tomatoes in February! I love longitudinal research (the scenic route!).I'm growing Nasturtium 'Spitfire' for the GROW project. Thanks to Renee's Garden for the seeds.
OH MY your beauty berry!! I have never even heard of beautyberry....they are GORGEOUS! What bold, delicious color!! Thank you for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteHi Monica....how delightful to see your nasties still blooming. Mine finished several weeks ago and did not do particularly well this year....nevermind, 2011 I am sure will be a good one!!!
ReplyDeleteWhile visiting your beautiful country I saw a beautyberry flowering under the canopy of a large tree. It was surrounded by smaller trees.....and do yoi know it really jumped out at me. Absolutely gorgeous, I was surprised to see in woodlands....obviously shade does not bother it too much???
Nice post.......love the scenic route, we always do that on holiday. We came off the interstate during our stay in US
and travelled the small roads....wow fantastic.
Have a fun week.....
Wow, you grew your eggplant in pots? I'll have to try that next year! Ours did miserably in the ground, because the squirrels kept eating them. Maybe in pots I can keep a better eye on it. Those beautyberries are gorgeous. I've never heard of those before. Are they edible?
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Monica! Your fall sure is colorful, LOVE the beautyberry! Glad to see that your nasties are doing so well, mine are all blooming like champs, too.
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Monica! I've been trying to take Cheryl's advice, too, and focus on the here and now, but sometimes I get too caught up in the to-do list and find myself on the "interstate" instead:) Thanks for these lovely reminders--I love, love the beautyberry! And those tomato seeds are so cool--I stared them for the longest time, trying to figure out what they were. If you do get tomatoes in February, we may all be soaking seeds too long!
ReplyDeleteI've been looking for a beauty berry-- no one's ever heard of them around here; that one looks like it really REALLY needs to be divided, and have a cousin in Chicago...
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with taking the scenic route Monica. Much better than the fast lane. I like beauty berry so much I have two of them in my small garden. They are chocked full of berries. There was a cardinal on one of them munching the berries this week. I hope you have a great week taking in all the scenery.
ReplyDeleteI think those beautyberries at CBG were the first ones I'd ever seen. I want one!
ReplyDeleteWish I knew what was up with that queen of the prairie! Better late than never, I guess!
I adore your beauty berry, and wish I had room for one. I think I'm just on the edge of hardiness here.
ReplyDeleteWow your Beautyberry is looking fabulous this year. I think mine needs a bit more sun than it's getting at the moment. Those Nasturiums are gorgeous too, mine didn't care for our hot & dry summer this year. Thanks for taking the scenic route. ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Monica,
ReplyDeleteI love the beautyberry (Callicarpa americana). What a pretty plant! Do you know if it would grow in California, where summers can get pretty hot?
I cannot get them to flower here at all~But they do make very nice greenery! Love, love, love the Beautyberry and NEED (listening Gail?) this lovely in my garden! Monica, I will save seeds of the wild asters and send them to you~Or a plant or two! gail
ReplyDeleteThat beautyberry is gorgeous! Totally added to my wishlist.
ReplyDeleteYour background with those orange nasturtiums is like wow! Love it! Roque QotP huh? That sums it up but what a treat to have a bloom in October.
ReplyDeleteIs it just the picture, or is that beautyberry actually C. dichotoma? Either way it's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI wish I was smart enough to take the scenic route, instead of going around in circles!
It's good to see you posting again! :)
Hi Monica
ReplyDeleteAuf der Scenic Route gefällt's mir auch gut. Die beautyberry sieht Spitze aus. Sowas habe ich hier noch nie gesehen. Man lernt halt immer wieder Neues in der Blogger-Welt.
Ich wünsche Dir einen gemütlichen und zufriedenen Tag.
Liebe Grüsse
Alex
Hi Monica!! Now, about that Beauty berry. (I am in the midst of taking the Master Gardener class... and we discussed this last night. Whew! I don't exactly remember, but does this become a pest? Or is it easily managed?) Your nasturtium looks a lot like mine... yes, it's still budding. ha.
ReplyDeleteHi Monica,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder to enjoy the here and now. We are having a church banquet Sunday, and I was asked to talk about things I remember about the past. Someone else is going to talk about the present, and another, the future direction or vision we have. I found out this evening that I don't have to memorize what I'm going to say. That took the pressure out of it.
I like the color of the nasturtiums. I'm enjoying my 2 beauty berry bushes, too.
You asked about the scientific name of the snail vine. It's Vigna caracalla.
The scenic route is certainly a beautiful one, and your photos are great. I love them especially the scattered hairy pods, uncommon but pretty. I also love those purple berries which of course we dont have here. thanks for the tour.
ReplyDeleteThat beauty berry is awesome! Looks like the nasturtiums are liking the cooler temps in you area.
ReplyDeleteHi Monica
ReplyDeleteDanke für Deinen Besuch. Oh nein, mein Schränkchen kommt nicht in den Garten. Der würde tatsächlich sehr schnell sehr wüst aussehen. Er darf ins Gästezimmer. Nur am Markttag im nächsten Jahr darf er mit raus :o).
Liebe Grüsse
Alex
All looks autumn lovely, Monica, especially your stunning Beautyberry (don't think I have ever seen one before). Have been meaning to ask, how did your Chocolate Cosmos perform? 2 of mine seemed to fizzle out :( one is still blooming. Remember my ivory hibiscus? Have yet to see a bloom, must be tasty since all buds are eaten!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen Beautyberry before. Can you eat them?
ReplyDeleteThe beautyberry is so lovely at this time of year. You have so much color for October. I feel the same as you when I see plants budding.Bless their little hearts.
ReplyDeleteAs a sign of hope - there are nasturtium seedlings springing up at the front of my house, even though it is late in the season and I didn't even plant any there this year!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if they are ones which didn't germinate last year, or self-seeded from last year and are late starters . . . whatever the reason . . . there they are . . . signs of surprising growth in a surprising place at a surprising time.
Esther
That is a banner year for your purple beautyberry. So pretty.
ReplyDeleteEsther's comment made me think of the cockscomb plants that came up from last year's blooms just a few weeks ago, and are now blooming. They are much shorter than last year, and the blooms are smaller. One of the plants has larger blooms than the rest, and is about 2 or 3 feet tall. I was surprised to see them come up so late. They are adding some nice color to the bed. Still, I had my neighbor give me more seeds that I'll plant in the spring. She planted hers in the spring, and they got tall with big blooms like mine were last year. Hmm!
ReplyDeleteBeing mindful of the here and now is a subject (as you know!) that's been high in my awareness lately too Monica. It's such a rewarding way to travel through life.
ReplyDeleteYour beauty berry sure is living up to its name.
I love the scenic route and feel my last two years have been just that. It's a good thing! Love that beautyberry!
ReplyDeleteOh, meant to comment on the eggplant in a pot. It looks great. I think I'll try that next year, flea beetles be damned.
ReplyDeleteHello again, Monica!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of 'The Scenic route'! And the beautyberry plant is gorgeous - love the colours of the berries.
Oh, how I wish I could grow Beautyberry! What amazing berries. I am fortunate that where I live every errand requires travelling the scenic route.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about your neck of the woods, but beauty berry grows wild around here. They don't have as many berries as yours does though. That's really pretty. --Randy
ReplyDeleteHubby is always teasing me about taking the scenic route. I will go out of my way to travel the back-roads--you see and find things you would pass right by on the main roads. It truly is an attitude that takes you on a journey through life.
ReplyDeleteI love your Beauty-berry. It is stunning. And your Hibiscus managed to look Autumnal and Tropical all at the same time. No small feat!
Happy Trails!
Jenny
Hallo liebe Monica,
ReplyDeletees sieht noch ziemlich sommerlich aus bei Euch. Die Schönfrucht sieht ja total schön aus. Herrliche Farben.
Viele liebe Grüße sendet Dir Birgit
Dear Monica ... afraid to miss something grand, count me in for traveling the scenic (or non-scenic) route beside you :)
ReplyDeleteMonica your blogs make me Happy. so I'm passing a Happy award on to you.
ReplyDeleteCallicarpa americana - Beauty berry
ReplyDeleteis on my list for our garden:)
Thanks for the walk along the "scenic route".
- Cheers Gisela.
I love your nasturniums, I'm so tempted to plant them in a dry part of my garden, but i'm afraid to with their thug status. How does it behave in your garden?
ReplyDeleteHa ha! Your spit fire bud looks just like a bird!
ReplyDeleteHallo Monica
ReplyDeleteJa, Gwundergarten ist ein Wortspiel. Allerdings ist Gwunder kein Ort sondern ein Schweizerdeutsches Wort für Neugierde :o). Bei mir war's die Neugier alles mögliche an Pflanzen auszuprobieren, ob die nun wollen oder nicht *grins*.
Wünsche Dir einen herrrlichen Herbsttag.
Liebe Grüsse
Alex
I love the beautyberry! I will have to try that one at home. Here is the one that is available at my local nusery, Callicarpa bodinieri 'Profusion'. hope it lives up to its name!
ReplyDeleteHi Monica.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your blog. I've been helping a friend with his garden in Florida and beautyberries are native to the area. We chose the white and the purple ones.
The beautyberry is new to me and quite interesting.
Cheers
How can I meet my goal of posting on everyone's blog tonight, if people don't post to their own blogs. Really, you gotta work with me here.
ReplyDelete