I find myself prowling the garden, waiting for the dramas of autumn. Some of them are underway already. 
Though summer has not yet retired and tomatoes and apples (Blenheim Orange) are still ripening, 
This rhododendron (Morgenrot) thinks it is spring. 
No idea what this frog is thinking. We have no pond, but I bump into frogs a few times every year (he is a frog; he is smooth-skinned and he jumps). 
There are roses (Alec’s Red – knockout scent and cosmos (Chocamocha) in flower and even the odd sweet pea.
What I am really waiting for is the maples to change colour. I am impatient to know which of my new seedlings has the best autumn glow. This impatience is foolish, I must not wish the summer away and the marigolds (Calendula) in the veg plot are still covered in blooms a joy to behold.
And there is plenty of drama (Pampas Grass) in the botanical gardens. 
Green Writing Room 
Wonderful, welcoming garden!
Thank you. It keeps me happy!
Pretty pictures! We’re starting to see fall where I live. It’s weird because it’s as if I blinked and all of a sudden there are red and orange leaves in the trees. Seemed to happy so quickly. But I love fall so bring it on, I guess. 🙂
I love it too (a birthday and the beginning of the academic year help). Yet, the seasons go so fast these days, the blog helps me pause and appreciate.
We have just had the hottest start to October on record. Up to 40c (104 F) and then down to 22 (70) all in three days. And bushfires already. The climate is certainly preparing us for a real kick in the backside.
This sounds terrifying, I do hope it calms down. Blogging has certainly taught me to be aware of the opposing seasons in different hemispheres.
What a lovely garden. Your photos are wonderful! 🙂
Thank you. I’m afraid the photography is rough and ready, but I enjoy it.
It all so gladdens the heart, especially the frog.
Yes, the frog guarantees a spontaneous smile every time I see one (some years I don’t, but there are other things to smile about).
Peggy was disappointed she didn’t see more flowers on her August garden tour of the Cotswold. But she did love the tour and will be blogging about it soon. Yours appear to be quite happy they have survived into the fall. As for the frog, someone has to be around to eat up fall bugs. (grin) –Curt
Peggy was very unlucky, it was a miserable August weather-wise. There is often a gap in the flowering season, with the main flushes of flowers in May, July and September. There is supposed to be a June gap too. It all depends on the weather and the part of the country. Of course, a well-designed garden should have things in bloom continuously, but nature doesn’t always play by the book.
Still, she loved her visit, Hillary. Now if I can get her to put her blogs together. (grin)
I look forward to seeing them!
I adore cosmos.
Hooray. They are such unassuming plants, but they somehow get it all right and the colour of these is so deep you can drown in it.
I’m not 100%sure, but I think frogs only need ponds to breed. The rest of the time, they are happy to be damp. Some beautiful photographs!
There is a small river a 100 years or so from us, but you have to cross a road. None of our near neighbours have a pond, that I’m away of… (hmm, I’m going to check that out, I’ve just thought of someone). I did rescue a frog from inside one of our watering cans earlier this year. He hopped away.
Beautiful.
Thanks. I was going to say – and all free – but considering I have just been to the garden centre and returned with an armful of bulbs, perhaps not.
Like M-R, I love Cosmos…I used to grow many colors of them, my favorite being that pink particular to them; they always reminded me of the basic, humble, five-petal flower I used to draw and color over and over, as a child, though I never had a crayon exactly that color of pink!
You’re right, there is an enormously pleasing simplicity to them. Now I am remembering the joy of a set of graded colouring crayons.
It’s lovely to see the abundance of your garden, Hilary. Your garden always inspires me!
Thank you, I’m so glad. I find nature is very generous given the slightest encouragement.
I don’t blame you. Fall is my favorite color palette too, though we never see it in Singapore.
In England you never know how much colour you will get, it all depends on the weather. This year looks hopeful, near us the woods are already a turning orange and butter yellow.
Your garden photos are always so well taken, Hilary. While you will be surrounded with intense fall colors very soon, please think of me in this semi-desert, drought-ridden asphalt jungle. 🙂
This is a great compliment coming from you as your close-ups of plants and flowers are exceptional. I do hope some autumn leaves come whirling through your asphalt jungle.
What a wonderfully refreshing set of photographs, I feel I want to drink in all those beautiful plants bathed in autumn sunshine.
I know what you mean, being in a garden is like having wonderful drink.
Lovely garden, I especially like the apple tree, lots of apples on a small tree.
I was a bit naughty, I should have taken at least half of them off, but there were so many and I had already culled twenty or thirty…
Hi Hilary – love the pic of the tomatoes on the windowsill – such a lovely smell as well.
Thank you. You should see the sill now; it is end-to-end tomatoes in different shades of green and red!