Friday, September 02, 2011

Sayonara to Summer

Wild 4 O'Clocks
Brrr... chilly last night... donned a jacket to stay warm as I was lounging on the porch, saying bye-bye to this busiest of seasons. 

It being Labor Day weekend, summer is technically over, though this cowgirl has her fingers crossed for a long, leisurely Autumn.

It's Sedum's time to shine.
No grand wishes for the season to end. Simply delighted to say good-bye to summer chores ~ I've run out of steam.

Autumn could be my favorite season, were it not for the fact that it's a precursor to winter. When blossoms grow weary, horseback riding winds down... And, this ex-skier, who still lives in a ski resort, starts fretting over how to keep busy. 

The last of the late-blooming Phlox.
Two months from now, when the cold winds blow, I'll wonder why I ever had the nerve to complain...

I whined, throughout June, when the rainy weather refused to cooperate. 

In July, I threw a fit about how the weeds are the busiest bloomers in my ill-kept gardens. (Must be the rains. Couldn't possibly be my fault!)

After that, a major bitch session that August is simply too hot to handle. 

One little straggler: Knautia
My oldest and dearest friend came for a visit last week. And, whaddyaknow, I whined about that, too. Why didn't she come 2 weeks ago when the flowers were perfect? 

Is it just me? Or do flowers always put on the prettiest show when I'm the only one here to see it.

Worn out Coneflowers
In spite of it being the busiest summer on record, 'twas a season filled with great days in the garden. Adventures galore, with my beloved horses. Memorable months with friends old and new.

Here's hoping y'all have a lovely, lazy, non-laborious Labor Day.

26 comments:

KC said...

Another complaint about this time of year.....the yellow jackets get mean! I have been stung three times in the last week. OOOOCH!!! Other than that it is truly lovely. Perfect temps for most anything we want to do:)

Unknown said...

I guess the folks in Texas are the only ones wishing our lives away for Autumn this year. All the posie photos in your blog this summer were so beautiful. I suppose we all have next summer to look towards and hope for more enjoyable days in the gardens.

I am so glad you understood my posting. Some just think that rain is the answer.

Victoria said...

Wow..gorgeous blooms..poetic writing..you have captured me with your garden charm and words! Love those 4o'clocks...wow..and echinacea looks fab! Always a treat to visit your realm my friend!!
Happy end of summer..thanks for adding a sparkle to my day!
Kiki

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hey, KC!
They are soooo nasty! I haven't been stung but that's mostly 'cause I run pretty fast. :))

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hey, Tufa!
Great minds think alike? Run off is a HUGE problem around these parts, too. Thanks for the kind compliments. It was a good year for flowers and I hope they can keep blooming through a good, long autumn.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thanks, Kiki!
Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

CanadianGardenJoy said...

OMG Kate girl we must be twins separated at birth because I had the same whine and bitch cycle as you did ! LOL .. This garden year has been weird to say the least .. and right now ? my ground gardens could use a big drink (it says since yesterday we will get rain and none so far .. hot and humid YES .. but no rain) Hey don't shy away from Autumn because winter snuggles up behind it .. I live for Autumn : ) you know how beautiful it is and remember girl .. Halloween is the major send off we both love .. I better start getting things done so I can have FUN !! wink wink
Joy ^..^

Laurrie said...

Except for the part about living in a ski resort, I could have written this post. Same here. The garden looked so good when the visitors weren't here. The weeds. The temps. The gardener's loss of steam. All so familiar way over here on the right coast too! I'm glad to know there are kindred complainers everywhere.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Dust off the ghosts and goblins, Joy!

Our favorite season is right around the corner! :))

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thx, Laurrie;
We whiners need to stick together. :D

Corner Gardener Sue said...

I thought you had given up on gardening for the season, because I clicked on your food blog accidentally, thinking it was the garden one. When did you get back home?

Well, you do still have some nice blooms, even though the season is almost over. I didn't get out as much as I like this summer because of all the heat we had.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hi, Sue;
I'm pathetically lazy with that cooking blog of mine. It's been hmmmm.... 6 months since I posted? :)

Thankfully I have more energy toward the garden one. Though I've been a slacker every where in the blogosphere this summer. Too much to do in the real world, I guess.

Friko said...

You know what, dear Kate, you have described me to a 'T'.

Moan, moan, moan, that's all I ever do, nothing is ever good enough.

If I hadn't come just at this time to read this particular post I'd spend today moaning about the weather, the weeds, gardener being away, bird droppings, tall plants having been flattened by the wind before their time. . . on and on I'd go.

No more! You happened to me at just the right moment!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I am incredibly weary of the heat and drought. It seems like we have not had any summer here I (and my garden) was mysteriously transported to an alien desert planet. I hope to arrive back on a cool moist green earth sometime soon. Have a nice weekend.

Carolyn ♥ said...

Love your last line...
lazy non-laborious Labor Day. We really should call it Non-Labor Day. Now that's my kind of holiday.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Glad to be of service, Friko! :)))

And, thanks again for the great giggle yesterday. Geez, I have become so weary of sales calls. Can't wait to try out your new tactic.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

You've had a tough time of it, Lisa;

A little bit of weird weather is hard enough. Dealing with an entire summer of strange weather patterns can make anyone feel unhappy.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thx Carolyn;
I hope you and your family have a terrific (and lazy :) long weekend. Looks like our weather will be ideal for a picnic.

Rilly said...

I've had more beautiful flowers with less effort than anytime in the past all because of the cool summer here in the PNW, yet I still managed to complain about something. I guess it's the nature of the beast. I love your blog.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thx, Rilly;
That's very kind of you to say. ;>)

sweetbay said...

A non-laborious Labor Day is the best kind. ;) It's too bad the garden didn't fully cooperate for visitors but your pictures from this summer have been beautiful.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thx, Sweetbay;
I hope you're planning some grand adventures with the horsies this weekend. I'm resting up as next week comes my next big ride.

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said...

Kate, It has been a tough summer and I think we all head into fall with projects left unfinished. "Memorable months"- that is something valuable and well worth carrying along with you into fall!
P.S. Your rock garden is looking spectacular!

Patrick's Gardren said...

Enjoyed your farewell to summer. I've never heard of wild four o'clocks but they look great. Hoping we all get a long fall but who can predict based on this year's weather.

Lona said...

Kate girl I am like you I would really enjoy the autumn weather if I was not thinking about what came afterwards. Cain fever at its best. With such a crazy year so far I am really dreading to see what autumn and winter may bring. LOL!
We have gone from sleeveless to long sleeves here too.
Oh what the heck I am never satisfied. LOL!

I love your four o'clocks. Mine have not even bloomed yet so that does not bode
well. Yes, the garden always looks better when there is no one but you around. We need that sign that says "you should have seen my garden last week". LOL!

Snowcatcher said...

And now, after two years I finally discover what one of the unidentified thriving plants in my yard is... Sedum!!!

(one of the few that actually bloomed this year)