Happy Vines...some of my vines are really coming into their own right now, including-Clematis "My Angel" (whose flowers and seed heads are nice to look at), Porcelain Vine- with it's nice variegated leaves, and the papery fruits of my hops vine (above the american flag). Some things about the F_ _ _ season are alright!

More "last hurrah" late-season pics...including a couple "gorrilla-faced" rocks I found in the yard...they're definately among my very favorite decorations! The vine is a houseplant that's out for the summer, "Climbing Yellow Bleeding Heart (dicentra scandens 'Athens Yellow')....it really grows fast and loves the minimal sun on the porch. I'll have to rescue it from the colder temps soon, though; it's only hardy to zone 7b. Another gem from Plant Delights!

Fall Fungus...this cool mushroom started out yellowy-orange in late August, looking a bit like "Audrey" from Little Shop of Horrors. Then a couple days ago, it's bright red and appears that "Audrey" got fed...very cool! I've been trying to ID her, but no luck as yet...anybody have any ideas?

More images from the garden...even though it's getting cooler, there's still plenty of "flower power" out there! Even the mushrooms count as blooms for me! This Monarch catapillar seems unfazed...just chowing down on the milkweed, "Metamophasizing makes me hungry."

Packrat? Me? Naww....well at least it's a bit more organized, although I still cannot use my garage for a vehicle! Someday it will get even better, but this project was time-consuming enough! Gotta say I don't feel bad about my "hoarding disorder" though.....after all, if it weren't for people like me there wouldn't be any antiques!

Warmer temps, time to re-pot the houseplants before it's too late...first my "Sexxy Rexxy" Rex Begonias get new, colorful pots. I love these plants for their cute little flowers and gorgeous foliage. Got these pots on sale at Menard's, they're the kind that have the unglazed inner pot that gets water via capillary action from the water you put in the glazed outer pot. I have three of this type already for my african violets, so I figured the Rex's would enjoy them, too.

Okay, so maybe I'd better start being realistic about the "F" word (Fall)....when you see the grasses doing this, and a cold snap forces you to rush the houseplants back into the house...then I guess it's really here. But I don't have to like it any!

Okay, last junk post-I realize that I have WAY more than I ever thought...there's a reasonable explanation for the plastic snake, though. I saw an article in Organic Gardening that claimed the plastic snakes can help keep rabbits out of your flowers (and some other animals). It did seem to help a lot at first, but now I think the varmints are used to them all (I have several). The wire mosquito is unfortunately close to life-size up here!

Even more stuff.....the wire bird is as close to a flamingo as I get, and when he fades out more, I'll paint him to look like a heron!

Okay, one more post before I finish the "hardware/junk" post...this is why I refuse to use the "F" word yet (Fall).....my garden is still blooming and busy with all the birds, bees, and amphibians it has all summer. So as far as I'm concerned, it's not fall until the frost makes it all brown! Dammit! *whew*...I feel better...

This is how nerdy I am, according to the quiz I took on Flatbush Gardener's blog-and I must say I am quite proud! Now if I could only find a gardener/fisherman/music loving/carnal-type nerd to canoodle with.....;)

Me then.....and them now....off the garden topic briefly, I am getting VERY excited about the upcoming Aerosmith/Motley Crue concert I'm attending!!! Here's me the last time I saw them in 1978.....still the same basic girl, just higher in volume...and gettin' stoked!! This is my other passion-concerts...and I feel shaky like a junkie-this will be my only show this year! Usually, I treat myself to at least three, and mostly multiple-band shows. But the "joys of home-ownership" have side-tracked me this year. But I get to see the "Toxic Twins" again...only now they will perform as artists and not junkies as they did 28 years ago....and I can hardly wait!!!

..and still more...turtles, koi, metal grasshopper, and of course, the "surfacing alligator" (although I think mine is fairly cool, cuz' he looks more "real" ha....). Some of my little friends are showing their wear/age, some are not. Still there is more.....

More frogs and a bunny (I really like frogs a lot)...more to come....