October 29
Still no frost, although the weather changes by Halloween. Colors are so strange -- lots of yellows, no reds. The crabapple is changing to lemon lime, but the aspens barely became a muted gold before starting to turn black or dropping leaves.
The Rose of Sharon behind the crabapple is quite yellow this year, and the redbud is starting to turn lemony.
But what is going on with the fragrant sumacs? They are a horrible yellow this year. They rarely turn real red like they did in Connecticut, but they've had deeper redder color in past years here.
The one below the rr ties has not turned any color at all, it's still quite green.
I took the petunias out, despite the fact they still bloom bravely. But with colder weather coming, and so late in the season now it was time.
I cut back most of plants in pots, moved them either into the garage or by the back wall behind the deck, and am starting to get ready for winter now.
How I hated to chop back and move the salvias and agastache and bright coreopsis from my sundial corner. They looked blowsy and gone by, but still great. I did love that prairie pot garden all summer.
Even as I got ready to cut the salvias back for winter storage, the blooms were still bright red and flowery.
Several other Radio Red salvias in pots are still going strong, and I didn't cut them back yet.
And the salvias I left in the ground this year to see if they will winter over, are still blooming a bit. The redtwig dogwood in front of one of them has maroon color now but it's quite subtle.
The Japanese maple is turning maroon, and will likely turn brilliantly red, but the serviceberry tree, which should have deep red foliage, is orange this year.
With the absence of cottonwood and aspen colors, and the yellows or oranges of everything else, it's a weird fall. The most vivid color is inside right now.
October 20
Suddenly our warm beautiful dry fall has turned. Still no frost, but for three days it has rained and there was 2 inches (!) of rain total. Cold and dark and dreary, not at all like the crisp mornings and sunny days we've been having.
This will knock down some leaves and shatter what's left of the perennials. When the weather clears later this week, I'll need to do clean up and start getting pots into the garage.
There had been no color yet this fall in the aspens or cottonwood. But it is the first year I have seen the Virginia creeper turn red. Usually it just browns or gets frost zapped early.
It was mostly gone before the rain started, but just before it had been noticeably red.
It's only the vine on the side by the garage. The long stretch in front of the patio hasn't turned red, but it has developed a richer rust color for the first time.
There's still no frost in the forecast, and when the rain stops, temps are going back to the mid 60s in the afternoon, which will be pleasant.
But all this rain will change how everything looks.
October 12
It's still gorgeous every morning, and sunny, dry and beautiful every day. Not much has colored up yet.
October 6
Every morning is delightful now. A really glorious fall so far.
Some close ups off the things that are flowering now. The pot of tickseed by the sundial has gone on all summer and still looks good.
October 4
The whole week has been lovely.
When a slight breeze blows it is refreshing. Mostly it is still and quiet, sunny and dry, absolutely beautiful.
It's an unusual fall for Santa Fe. Although nights are cold now, they don't get below 50. Normally we'd have a hard frost by now, or at least nights in the high 30s or 40s and lots of dieback.
But everything still looks good -- gone by and tired, but still full enough. The creeper vine is darkening and red in some spots but the aspens have not turned yellow yet.
Here's a before and after picture of the back yard, in 2020, before we took out the Spanish broom or planted the crabapple, and in 2024 this summer with the fat Chinese privet limbed up and overtopping the fence now
It's interesting to see the difference. The crabapple needs to gain height so that it's not another blob next to the privet!
October 1
Peacock catches the morning sun.
