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Gardeners! Share your garden photos and garden chatter here.

Top one is a monarch but the other two look like eastern black swallowtails. Be on the look out!
Yep, you were blessed by two different cats! The Monarch chrysalis would have been a lovely, smooth pale green and the Swallowtail chrysalises would have been green or brown, a bit smaller and more textured.

Fun times! 🦋 Keep watching for those Swallowtails!
 
Jeesh, just noticed the "Naked Ladies" autumn crocus yesterday while mowing at the family ruin. Weird things that emerge before their foliage. Sort of spooky at twilight. Pix later.
Compiled the fall "hit list" for clearance of invasives. Seems we always miss some, especially buckthorn whose berries rat them out. Required to bag and dump 'em with trash only.
 
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First one Nominated for August 2026 POTM
 
As promised, the "Naked Ladies," AKA Autumn Crocus at the family ruin. Slightly ghostly since their foliage only arrives later. Sort of glow at twilight. Believed resident for 100+yrs, maybe longer, like other parts of the ruin's gardens. It's also highly poisonous.

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As promised, the "Naked Ladies," AKA Autumn Crocus at the family ruin. Slightly ghostly since their foliage only arrives later. Sort of glow at twilight. Believed resident for 100+yrs, maybe longer, like other parts of the ruin's gardens. It's also highly poisonous.

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That's some lovely stuff - beautiful light color. I don’t doubt that it has a glow in the evening. How strange that it doesn't have any foliage until later - these stems do look bare!
 
In spite of the sweltering heat and torrid humidity I do have some plants that are blooming. The garden itself is a mess, but individual plants are doing ok.

1 Hollywood Sunset Hibiscus after our first rain in months.
sep28202601 by Jeff Ashman, on Flickr

2 A white Lantana that caught my eye at the nursery.
sep29202601 by Jeff Ashman, on Flickr
 
@jeffashman
I hope the weather in TX is not so hot and humid when I head down there in a few weeks for my nephew’s wedding! Austin area.

Here are the survivors of the recent dahlia toppling nor’easter. Fortunately most of the ones that were lost left a few branches which are now blooming. I also planted duplicates of my favorites so there’s still a lot in bloom! I still have 3-4 that have yet to bloom. Such a weird weather year. Heat wave in early June stunted them and then we had such a dry July and August followed by Summer immediately clocking out on 9/21 and it’s been cold ever since dropping into low 40’s most nights. The plants are confused.

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@jeffashman
I hope the weather in TX is not so hot and humid when I head down there in a few weeks for my nephew’s wedding! Austin area.

Here are the survivors of the recent dahlia toppling nor’easter. Fortunately most of the ones that were lost left a few branches which are now blooming. I also planted duplicates of my favorites so there’s still a lot in bloom! I still have 3-4 that have yet to bloom. Such a weird weather year. Heat wave in early June stunted them and then we had such a dry July and August followed by Summer immediately clocking out on 9/21 and it’s been cold ever since dropping into low 40’s most nights. The plants are confused.

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Lucky you! We're clearing tons of roots from ancient beds that went fallow/wild 3 decades ago at the family ruin. Objective? New spring tulip extravaganza assuming squirrel counter-measures pay off! Early days of full Fall underway. Just made a haul of pesto from basil picked from sheltered spots. Freezer stashed for a summer reminder when snowblower days arrive.
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Taking a break from TPF...
Back in 2027.
 
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Pulled all the (green) tomatoes off the plants and moved the hibiscus inside. We still have basil, oregano. Some asters blooming in the front yard and sweet william(?) on the side of the driveway.
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We cleared out some of the rosa multiflora and thistles last weekend, and I pruned back some of the woodbine / Virginia creeper that was growing up the trees. Maybe I'll try to tackle some of the nightshade next week, between rain days.

MLSIL sent a snap of a large limb that fell off the oak in her back yard. She suspects the very large tree has been dying the past couple years but thinks this will push her into "move mode."
 
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Everything we have in the ground is toast - the chill nights have made sure of it. However, all the potted herbs and flowers are still going. Lovely sunny days but chilly nights. Great Fall weather!

And - did I mention I have Black Swallowtail caterpillars?? I was starting to chop up some parsley that I'd just brought inside and discovered one, so checked out the rest and found 2 more.

One isn't looking viable: has barely moved and still in 1st instar stage. The other 2 look ready to pupate - looks like I'm going to have some overwinter guests. Just when I thought the butterflies had left the area!
 
I hope the weather in TX is not so hot and humid when I head down there in a few weeks for my nephew’s wedding! Austin area.
Good news! The highs will be in the mid-80's and the lows in the upper 60's. You'll be in Austin at the best time of year.
 

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