September Showers

I noticed Tuesday how pretty the trees are in the front yard and thought I should take some pictures. Of course I didn't- from the time I think I should do something that I don't need to do to the time I actually do it, is normally pretty great. Actually, unfortunately, the time I should do some things that I need to do to the time I actually do them is sometimes great. I´m not always a good person of action :).

Anyway, something unexpected and kind of neat happened Tuesday (9/29) night that got me thinking again of trees and plants and photos. It rained on Tuesday unexpectedly! Yes, it's an unexciting life when something like an unexpected rain shower is noteworthy (not complaining at all about life being unexciting- that's just how it is most of the time and that is ok) but, the thing is, we've had so little rain in the month of September that rain during this month, especially a not forecasted one, was a bit of a big deal, at least to the flora and to those tasked to keeping plants alive. 

We had rain on Monday, the 28th, that was forecast. As far as I know, that was the first day of rain we'd had in the month of September. I could be wrong on that- it's possible it rained on the first or second day of the month but I don't think it did. I don't keep a weather diary but the convertible Donnie bought in late August rendered keeping track of upcoming inclement important since the poor guy (the convertible, not Donnie) has to sit out in our driveway rather than be in our too small garage. I remember it raining once in the first few days of having the car. But, I think that was still in August.

Anyway, if it did rain in the very beginning of September, it didn't rain again until the very end of September. Lawns turned brown unless homeowners were committed to watering their lawn. Garden vegetables and plants were only kept alive by consistent watering during the month. Like I said, rain was in the forecast for Monday and it did rain on Monday, thank goodness. On Tuesday, there was no chance of rain in the forecast. So, when I laced up my running shoes around 7:30 pm for a cool evening run on Tuesday, I was astonished to open the door and see fairly heavy rain falling. What on earth? I checked the weather app on my phone and looked at radar- according to the radar on my weather app, we were not getting rain... Only we were actually. Soon it started to thunder and lightening so I forewent my run (I have no problem running in the rain but I try to avoid running in storms :)). 

I was glad that we had rain on Tuesday. I know that we needed it, Monday's rain notwithstanding. 

I finally did get out my camera and take some pictures. Here are a few pictures that depict the beauty of fall in our expansive(!) 1/4 acre lot :)

We have two trees in our front yard. Only one has gotten the fall memo so far...

The rain definitely perked up the alyssums in the front yard but probably in a couple of weeks I'll pull them up and take them to their final resting spot in the compost bin. Every day I find more and more red leaves in the alyssums.

I found some small mums at Wal-Mart for only $1. Mums don't last long for me so I was happy to make just a small investment. I bought the cute jack o lantern planters last year at Wal-Mart and forgot all about them- was happy to see them in one of our garage cabinets. 

Other summer flowers are still adding beauty to the porch but they are well past their prime.

Here's another view of the alyssums/ leaves

Probably one of the few gardeners in Ohio who hasn't had a ripe tomato yet :(

...but this cantaloupe is close and that makes me feel good!

Several small, smooth skinned cantaloupe in the garden ensure that we'll have fresh cantaloupe after the ripest one is done.

More green tomatoes...

And one last shot of our green/ red leaved tree!