Wonderful, beautiful, magnificent autumn...

Dear friends, how I have tried to get to you sooner.

Alas, my beloved October has spun right out of my hands, and here we are in the very last days.

How can it be, that it went by so very quickly, I just do not know.

I took some time today to take photos for you.

Truth be told, I lost my camera charger again, which I think was stolen by elves, because I always leave it connected in one place.

So, as soon as a new one arrived, I went out to take some photos for you.

My Garden loves the autumn cool down.

It's getting quite chilly here, so I thought I should take some proper time with my flowers of autumn, before they are gone.

The dahlias always adore the cooler weather.

Some of my most beautiful garden days have been on the first of November.

And so, I set out through my garden of rolling hills, along paths I invented...

Curving and meandering around peacefully.

Taking photographs for you.

Zinnias and dahlias abound on these astoundingly beautiful days.

All sorts of stripes and colors, just bobbing in the breeze.

It rained again for two days, which made the garden extra happy.

All the rain of summer, and now autumn, has done wonders.

I sometimes have someone come to help me pick up piles and prune taller things I can not reach.

A young man, who was helping me last week, told me I had the most beautiful garden he had ever been in.

I remember feeling that way about my grandmother's butterfly garden when I was young, and how that inspired me.

It was much like my garden, disheveled and wild, but it inspired my garden heart to the core.

That almost brought a tear to my eye, for a young person to appreciate my garden.

I mentioned to him that it was quite unruly, and he said he enjoyed that look, which I find delightful.

I told him he could have cuttings of my plants, and he said, I would love that.

He and his wife are probably in their 20's and just starting their first vegetable patch and just bought a House.

We stood amongst the towering tomato vines, and I collected some for his young little family.

Then we ate the sweetest ripest cherry tomatoes, that were absolutely indescribable.

Practically Willy Wonkaish in flavor, just mind blowing.

The only thing better than having a garden is getting to share it.

So very heartwarming, indeed.

I saw him strolling around, picking up limes.

So many endless lemons and limes.

Please take as many as you'd like, I said.

He and another gentleman had last been in the secret garden before I went crazy, building it out beginning in March of 2020.

They couldn't believe it, butterflies everywhere, towering trees.

I agreed and told them I could hardly believe it myself.

It's a bird, bee and butterfly sanctuary.

So many friendly little hummingbirds swoop around all day long.

The quail all jump into the trees at night.

There must be 3 big families of them that find safety in my night garden.

The incredible summer rains made everything grow leaps and bounds.

I never thought the Pierre de Ronsard would make its way over the arbor in one season.

Dahlias that I forgot I planted sprung up everywhere.

Like flamingo fireworks.

I love building a garden.

Letting it tell me where to put little steps.

Arbors.

Tables and chairs.

The garden will show you the way and guide you.

You just have to sit quietly, looking around, and its design will reveal itself to you.

For those that don't know, I split my time between my two houses which are not far from each other.

My country house (which I call house number 1) has a garden I started in 2001, which I still love and enjoy.

The garden in the photos today is at house 2, which I am beginning my 6th year in next month.

I first planted the more formal garden, in built in beds, right when I moved in.

The garden seen in these images was the garden I began in March of 2020, through a gate behind my formal garden at house 2.

More details about that garden here, and how it came to be.

I have technically built 5 gardens in my life to date.

With vegetables, flowers, pumpkin patches, fruit trees, etc.

It's safe to say that gardening is my greatest joy.

I have all my seeds lined up that will get planted as soon as winter rains begin.

Imagine that?

Just when you think it is coming to an end, it is time to plant again.

That's the greatest gift of the garden.

Something to look forward to and hopefulness for what is to come.

Winter works its own kind of magic.

Some seeds will only geminate in very cold weather, and certain fruit trees will only set fruit after a cold winter.

So, winter does have an important role in the garden as well.

I have had the most productive and busy October.

I think I have accomplished more in October than I have in the last year.

You know how I described organizing all the closets in my house in my last post?

Well, I kept going and lost myself in organization of every drawer and room in my entire house.

I got up every day for over 9 days and just worked and worked feverishly.

I had a little soirée as well, with my family.

I worked inside and outside, and all around, organizing my home.

Once I started the project, I realized that linen closets and armoires needed my attention as well.

And China cabinets and kitchen cabinets...

I just went on and on and on, organizing like a mad woman.

Then my family was coming to visit, so I wanted things to be just lovely for them.

I've been a real busy bee, and now it is October 25th, and I could cry for my love of October.

What a beautiful month, if only it could last 2 more weeks.

But now there will be November.

Which I find to be such a curious little gem of a month, collecting last garden findings.

Turning on the fireplace, getting cozy.

It's the month that two of my boys were born in, so it is dear to my heart.

You should know that I am the biggest sap ever.

Or perhaps you already know that ;-)

Times, places, memories, moments - 

They all have special meaning to me.

My Miles and Teddy were both born in November.

I was talking to Miles in the garden tonight, as I am writing to you from the country house.

He is buried in his verbena patch, under the canopy of the mesquite tree.

Golden hour was shining through the rose arbor, the horse next door was practically singing, the owls were hooting, and the birds were clearly having happy hour.

And I just whispered, Miley...

Talking to him about the beauty all around.

I watered all my beloved plants in my dear old garden here as the sun was setting.

In some ways it feels like I have been here for 100 years, and in other ways, it feels like no time has passed since I first arrived at the country house.

A young gal, collecting roses in buckets, and lining the garden paths with petals.

Getting my first dog, Baby, who was just a homeless dog visiting a yard sale I was at on a fine autumn day.

The homeowners of the yard sale told me all about her, and how she was homeless, but they fed her.

I asked if I could take her, and they were delighted because they were moving.

I opened the car door, and she jumped right in.

She changed me in every way, she cracked my heart right open with her unconditional love.

She is buried way out back by the vegetable garden and has a beautiful well-tended little grave.

The marigolds growing everywhere at this time of the year remind me that Dia de los Muertos is near.

 I suppose that's why my memories of my loves are right at the surface tonight.

Matty is snoring as I type.

I feel so happy that I can continue to make memories, and that we are still here, enjoying our gardens.

Experiencing another wonderful October, putting on my cardigan on this chilly night.

About to go make tea and cuddle with my giant Teddy bear.

I hope you are well, that October has been good to you.

I promise to share my Halloween table before the month is gone.

 

Love, Vanessa

 

ps: While I was typing I was listening to Pandora, and I looked to see what the name of the song I was listening to was.

How apropos...

Memories by Ryan Stewart