Falls Arrival...

Here I am out in the garden snapping pictures instead of getting ready for workshops this weekend. Oh phooey, it all gets done. The weather is nice for a couple more days, than rain. The pumpkin above is one of those giant sized ones people grow for show pumpkins. This is no show pumpkin but its quite large, about 3' across. Let the husband deal with that one...

We also grew some of the Mammoth Sunflowers this year. I do not ever recall growing them in the past. I usually favor the more boutique style sunflowers but these have really been interesting to grow primarily because they create there own habitat around them. Because of their enormous size-almost 18" across, the seeds are huge. Birds and squirrels have been staking claim to them for the past several weeks and it has been hilarious to watch the squirrels hang from the giant flower heads and pluck all the seeds out while my cat below zealously watches.
The faded remains of my Pee Gee Hydrangea. This particular variety has a cone shaped head and blooms late summer. Over time it can get quite large and oh so grand. I can't wait as mine is just a wee one. I find myself wandering around alot in the garden for peace and solitude amid the strange chaos of the world.

Nature has a beautiful grounding constant that brings me back to what is real and true.

Plucked clean and dry by birds, and squirrels.

Back to the studio to prepare for this weekends set of workshops at Art and Soul Portland.
I am so looking forward to gathering with other artful kindred spirits to refresh and regenerate the creative soul.
Peace