When the Hummingbirds Leave Home

Most of the black-eyed susan's around the yard are now covered with black seed heads to remind us of their once golden flowers.  The sunflowers have faded and their seed heads are left maturing on their stems.  The goldenrod is standing tall with its striking yellow plumes rising up to as tall as six feet or better. The jewelweed is in full bloom in the back of our yard.  When the jewelweed starts to bloom it means the hummingbirds will soon be gone.  Our adult hummingbirds left about three weeks ago and their babies will leave any day now. To me, when the hummingbirds leave that is when summer is over.

Sunday brunches sitting under the patio table umbrella will soon end. The cookouts will continue only for a few more weeks. The endless watering of the hanging baskets,  the deadheading of the flowers, and all of the weeding are winding to a close for this year.

Baskets of impatiens and callies along with zinnias and coleus decorated the summer patio.

           Many of the flowers for the yard are chosen as a source of nectar for the hummingbirds.

Sweet potato vines were in pots and in the beds all around the patio.

 

The sweet potato vines cascaded from hanging baskets too.

The mandevillas were  started last year from cuttings from my neighbor.

Grown from seed, the candy cane stripe zinnias are one of my favorites.

The  lantana was also grown from seeds gathered from last years plants. 

Now that the garden does not need constant attention, I can take the time for my fall decorating.  There will be a trip to Holmes County to Amish Country here in Ohio.  By far this is my favorite fall outing.  The black buggies, the rolling hills, the fall foliage, the wagons full of pumpkins, and all of the good food and friendly people.  What's not to like?

                One of our favorite places to visit in Holmes County is the Guggisberg Farm. Cornstalks, pumpkins and homemade bakery.  Yum, cinnamon rolls!

Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere!!!

You know what you do with cornstalks and pumpkins. Decorate of course!

Once the porch all falled up, then I can fall up the patio.  Lots of Mums and asters,  some fall foliage, a few cornstalks standing against the posts, and a couple of scarecrows to stand guard over everything.

After the porch and patio are decorated,  the indoor fall decorating can start.  Simple things like gluing fall leaves on an old candle and arranging fall flowers and leaves inside a metal pumpkin make a pretty centerpiece. Easy, peasy!   

Easy Fall Decor

Add some fall fillers to a cylinder shaped glass container and a large candle.  The candle can be placed into another tall and narrow cylinder container for safety.

Grapevines, acorns, and faux autumn leaves make great fillers for the fall.

     Adding corn stalks and pumpkin accents around the house is a fun and an inexpensive way to decorate.

Pumpkins, cornstalks, and hay bales decorate my little wooden "faux" house.

 Every fall I look long and hard for the tallest skinniest pumpkins I can find.  I love to decorate them with my ceramic and metal turkey set.  I named the smaller "turkey" Hank Jr. and the larger turkey is named Henry. 

Hank Jr. next to his father Henry.

And this is Henry!

 I will decorate our fall tree soon ( later in the season it evolves into a Halloween tree, then a Thanksgiving tree, then a Christmas tree, and then a Valentine tree, and lastly a St Patties Day tree). I found an  alpine tree at goodwill  several years ago.  I brought it home and spray painted it black. It is what it is.  Not fancy, not expensive, but I love it. See the Halloween tree preview below.

I love the beaded spider above the green jack-o-lantern.

Soon I will start on the fall mantle.  Every year I do something different.  I am thinking owls for this year.  I have been collecting owls for a long time.  I hope I have enough owls for a nice display. After Halloween Henry and Hank junior will hang out above the fireplace.

The fall mantle changes every year. 

Lovely fall tablescapes will soon grace the dining room table. Pumpkins and leaves will abound everywhere.  Little visitors like the acorn elves, owls,  squirrels,  and pheasants will come to share the table top with lovely fall dinnerware. All of this will happen soon enough.

Acorn elves gather on the table for a great autumn meal.

                   And then, dare I say it, Thanksgiving comes.  Turkeys, pilgrims and pie, OH MY!

Thanksgiving brings an end to fall and starts the Christmas season at our house.

I hope you come back and visit again soon.  We could share some recipes, and  we could share pictures of our projects. You can stop in once and a while to see a one of my seasonal tablescapes. While you are here we could step out into the garden and watch it as it changes throughout the year. Maybe we will even see some the visitors at the bird feeders while we are out and about in the yard. I really am looking forward to your next visit. Stay safe and stay happy. Come back soon!