Weeds in Winter

I didn't see it when it was green.

Indoor Hens and Chicks

Brought a few of the "chicks" inside for the winter.

House Sparrows at the Bird Bath

Just minutes after I filled the bird bath with warm water to melt the ice, I had customers.

Autumn Sedum

Sedum overwintering in a basket.

Cotoneaster Berries

They look good enough to eat...but don't. Poisonous to people. They probably won't kill anyone, but the gastrointestinal symptoms make folks feel like they want to die.

Caught in the Act

The ornamental plum tree leaves are the last to turn in autumn.

Egyptian Walking Onions Off to a Good Start

These little strands will die back in the cold weather, but planting in the autumn gives these onions a head start for next year.

Monkshood

Still hanging on in the cold weather.

Frozen Garden: Hot Pink Zinnia

Not so hot pink anymore, after getting zapped by frost. I've been posting photos over the past several days showcasing the garden "after-the-big-freeze."

Frost Survivor

Somehow, this tiny yellow rose has survived the frosts.

Hens and Chicks in the Winter

They become tipped with a little red with the first frost, but they mostly stay green year-round.

Glad Bag

I'll trim these up in a couple of weeks. These are gladiola bulbs that will be re-planted in late spring.

Garden Food

Mulched leaves and grass will cover the garden beds for the winter. We'll work them into the soil in the spring.

Frozen Garden: White Tomato

One of those strange "white tomatoes" we tried this year. This one I wouldn't have saved had we been home before the big freeze. They weren't very tasty.

Frozen Garden: Sunflower

It seems perfectly round. Birds will discover it soon.

Frozen Garden: Strawberries

Even the strawberries change color for autumn.

Frozen Garden: Rose

A rose bud that's been freeze-dried.

Frozen Garden: Tomatoes

They look so bruised. These I would have saved, had we been in town for the first hard freeze.

Snowy Wisteria

Snow on the wisteria yesterday morning. Second year in a row we've have autumn snow.

Frozen Garden: Mum

A chrysanthemum that's escaped a frosty death...so far.

Welcome, Winter Friend

On the left, an Oregon junco. These little birds come to our region for the winter. Today is the first day I've seen one this season. Some years, they arrive in late September.

Frozen Garden: Leaves

Maple leaf and yes, the grass is still quite green.

Frozen Garden: Twirly Zinnia

A "state fair" sized zinnia frozen in time.

Frozen Garden: Clematis

This is what becomes of the big purple flowers of summer.

Frozen Garden: Small Zinnia

One of the petite zinnias. These flowers will stay in the garden in their freeze-dried state for the winter so birds can eat the seeds.

Frozen Garden: Cherry Tomatoes

Normally, I would save as many tomatoes as possible before the first big freeze...but I was out of town when it happened this year.

Frozen Garden: Butterfly Bush

The hard freeze drained the color from the butterfly bush blooms.

Frozen Garden: Black-eyed Susans

The garden has become droopy, discolored and yes, interesting. I'll be posting a series of "frozen" shots over the next week or so.

Hello Little Bird

I think this is a house finch. Still looking for Oregon juncos. They're usually here for their winter stay by now.

Lobelia Loves the Cool Weather

The lobelia perked back up with the cooler weather.

Creeper Berries

These are the fruits on a Virginia creeper.

Out of Time

Tomato plants have already been touched by light frost.

Hops

This one was sneaky to survive the weeding this year. Hops are aggressive vines.

Another Autumn Bright

This one also caught my eye as appearing more intense in our cooler weather. (please ignore those nasty aphids)

Autumn Roses are Brightest

I don't know if it's a fact that rose colors are more intense in the fall, but they seem that way to me.

Coconut Lime Echinacea

It sure took its time in blooming this year, but I'm happy to see it.

Puddle Bird

I was scoping out the back yard, looking for Oregon juncos...none have arrived yet, but there are plenty of house sparrows.

NOT a Hummingbird

Noticed a flurry of activity at one of the hummingbird feeders...but no hummingbirds. Lots of busy finches and sparrows in the rain today.

Wet flowers today. Suddenly, it feels like autumn in Boise.

Spider Dinner

A garden spider bundling up the catch. I think it caught a wasp.

Warning: These Are HOT

Serrano chile peppers. Supposedly hotter than jalapenos. I can't verify that personally...yet. I'll be adding these to salsa soon.

Amaranthus in Bloom

Amaranthus mixed in among the potatoes and zinnias. This variety is most often called "love lies bleeding."

Beans: Good and Plenty

My sweet daughter helped me pick this batch. I'll trim them, blanch and then freeze.

Orange-y Red Zinnia

I wish I had planted more of these superstars. Well, next year.

White Tomato

 I was wondering why this huge tomato wasn't turning red...the tag says it is a Great Northern White tomato. Well, actually light yellow. Very sweet with melon overtones. Hardly any seeds.

Hibiscus

About the size of a salad plate. This is the last showy bloomer each season. Each blossom lasts just one day.

Junkyard Dog...and Cat

My Art in the Park treasure this year...a dog chasing a cat.

Oh. Autumn IS on the Way

The trees know. The first day of autumn comes next week.