Fall is my favorite season and I’ve been counting down the days anticipating its arrival. I’m so glad it’s finally here!
We had a teaser of fall weather a week ago, but in typical North Carolina-fashion, summer is back and here to stay for a while. Upper 80 degree temperatures this week and into next, means no cider sipping by the fire pit anytime soon, but I’m still ready to roll out the pumpkins!
In celebration of fall’s arrival, I chalked up my Potting Shed door.
And gathered some pumpkins. . .
Tricolor mums help make the transition from summer to fall, blending the colors of season, while annuals are still in bloom in the garden.
Limelight hydrangeas have taken on a burnished hue and made the transition from summer to fall, ready to dry.
The stems are weighted down and heavy with flowers, weary from a long summer. . . just like me. ;)
I cut some hydrangeas to fill some watering cans and used them this week at the table in a centerpiece and to make a quick and easy DIY Fall Harvest Arrangement.
Knock Out roses are still blooming along with containers of summer annuals. I’ve cut back from my summer daily watering schedule, but still lugging the hose around several days a week.
Knock Out roses will get pruned in winter, since any pruning now might encourage late growth that wouldn’t harden off in time for winter.
I’ve stalked the hummingbirds with my camera all summer but they’re always too fast for me, zipping from flower to flower and chasing each other away from the feeders. Most Ruby-throats will leave North Carolina by mid-October, return in late March. Shorter days are thought to be a signal for the birds to head south and some even begin migrating as early as late July.
Milkweed has reseeded and sprouted everywhere, living up to the ‘weed’ in its name.
I let it all come up in hope of attracting more Monarch butterflies that provide some welcome wings and fall color in the garden! I’ve seen several Monarchs flitting and fluttering about the flowers this week.
Hummingbird moths are still visiting the lantana that’s thriving in the heat. . .
And the last of the verbena that’s still blooming. If you’re not familiar with hummingbird moths you can read more about them, here.
Happy first day of fall!
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Metamorphosis Monday
Just delightful! Always love your chalk drawings. Your artistic talent shine through in so many ways.
I love the festive crowd of pumpkins at your garden shed! Like you, Mary, I’m still lugging the hose and cans around the yard. My containers are rootbound with leaves yellowing. While the hummers seemed to have moved from here a couple weeks ago, the butterflies are still hangin’ around – some looking rather haggard though. My Mexican sunflowers are flourishing in this heat! Happy Fall Maybe some pumpkin ice cream is in order, rather than a latte. ;)
A beautiful celebration of the first day of fall!!! Happy weekend, Mary!
Your chalky pumpkins, leaves and flowers are wonderful Mary! Your potting shed looks so happy surrounded by so many growing things, pumpkin piles and blooms! I don’t know how you capture butterflies and itty bitty creatures, fascinating to see up close~ Happy Fall!
Jenna
Love the chalkboard display and arrangement of pumpkins and mums!
I love Fall too but it will be some time before it cools down in Savannah. Thank you for all the lovely pictures and inspiration!
Your chalk design has inspired me, as does most everything you do :-) Thank you so much for the info on the hummingbird moths. My hubs and I thought they were mini hummingbirds. We have quite a few of those every year. Now we feel so edjamacated :-) Never too old to learn a little more! Thank you Mary!
You are sooooo talented! Love your post and now I know what a hummingbird moth looks like.
What a lovely display,
Happy first day of Fall, Mary! Your potting shed looks so happy in the beginnings of Autumn glory. Your photos are so beautiful of all the nature surrounding you. I’ve never heard of hummingbird moths. Enjoy your weekend by playing and puttering!
A charming Fall garden!
Wow!!!!!! Thank you for the tour of your potting shed! I love the chalking on your door and all of your garden God bless
Love the hummingbird picture!!!!
It is quite the feat to capture the humming bird like you have. I’ve tried numerous times and failed. Happy Fall!
Happy Autumn from Oregon! I have never heard of the Hummingbird Moth…will have to look a little closer among the flowers! Thank you for your beautiful and informative posts!
I love this and all your posts – they are always inspiring! 🍁🍂🌻🍁🍂🌻🍁🍂🌻
Happy first day of fall…you have welcomed it in Mary style! I always enjoy seeing what you have created on the chalkboard. The mums and pumpkins are just fabulous! Beautiful display of autumn!
Been in lower 80s here in tidewater area of Va. of course, today I put pumpkins on my porch so the temp shot up to upper 80s
Happy First Day of Fall to you too Mary! Fall is my favorite time of the year at the Potting Shed. Beautiful tricolor mums….I cannot wait to get mine at the Farmer’s Market…Love it all from your gorgeous flowers of mums and butterfly loving flowers to the beautiful displays you always create….and love that blackboard art!!! Happy Fall Mary!!
Still 90 degrees here! Maddening! I love looking at all your flowers and potting implements. It gives me hope that autumn may perhaps someday actually roll around here! Enjoy!
Pray tell what are the beautiful red & yellow leaves to the left of the door? Your little shed is amazing!
Thanks Sherry! It’s a annual and variety of coleus. 🍁
Mary your flowers are gorgeous. With the pumpkins and fall flowers it looks like Autumn.
Joan
All of those pumpkins and beautiful flowers seem to say it is time to celebrate Fall.
Marilyn
I love all of the pumpkins. The flowers are so lovely. Mary you have a green thumb. The weather here in New York is warm and going to be in the upper 80’s next week.
HAPPY FALL
Marion
Happy Fall to you! It feels like Fall here today because of the remnants of “Jose”,although that will end by Sunday. The Potting Shed is beautiful in every season and love the chalkboard art. I find the hummingbird moths fascinating. Thank-you for another delightfully entertaining and educational post.
Happy Fall Mary! Temps near 90 here in Philly too… Hang in there:@)
Lovely 😊
Perfectly lovely…everything!
Happy Autumn, Mary! It’s my favorite season too, but I’ve been slowly moving that direction. My garden isn’t blooming like yours, but I’ve been cleaning it out readying for some fall annuals. My knockouts did not fair well this past summer, and I’ve decided to pull them out. Not sure what I’ll put in their place just yet. They preformed well for many years, but I think they are tired. ‘-) Your art work is beautiful, and the pumpkin mat is perfect to welcome fall. I need to look for a new mat for fall. ;-)
~Mary~
You welcomed fall in a perfect way !! your plants are still looking pretty, I gave up hehe! The picture of the hummingbird is so neat !
Stay cool
Paula
IN
Vacationing this week at Topsail Beach N.C. Certainly no fall weather here but beautiful none the less. Your potting shed is so pretty and when I get back home I will do some pumpkin shopping and do my front porch. Don’t you just love the heirloom ones they have now. Such fun. Enjoy the last days of summer regardless what the calendar tells us. So thankful no hurricanes up our way I will take the heat. Thanks for your beautiful photographs.
We left Maine for a quick trip to our daughter in Tennessee where the first day of fall was 92! I know you will make the most of what the season offers.
I love Fall too, and especially at your amazing shed! Your artwork is SO wonderful, I wish I had that talent as my hubby does too. Loved your arrangement and now this setting. Where did you find the door mat? SO, pretty! I just got back from my annual beach trip with my GF’s. This is the 42nd year we have done it!!!!! One girl even flew up from Fl. to come!!!! I am blessed to have this group of girls.
Thank you for providing me inspiration for chalkboard drawings!
FALL?? We, like you, had a taste and then it was SMACK! Right back to summer! Of all times to have 90 degree weather…but your Fall colors are beautiful!! The field behind us IS showing it’s Fall colors..the beans are turning yellow. Hummers are still here fighting over the feeders and I haven’t seen any hummingbird moths lately..had lots last year but this has been a weird summer..cool, wet, cold, short hot spell, then back to cool, wet, now hot again! Oh well, it’s Indiana, just wait around and the weather will change. After seeing your post, I’m craving a tart, crisp, apple! How about you all? 🌻🍁🍂🍎🍇☀️🍄🦋🐛🎃
Your puppies are so cute, how do you keep their eyes white? :)
So wonderfully magical, a secret garden made with love and joy, the perfect celebration for Autumn!