Happy Autumn

This is just a fun post about what's happening in my garden.  Autumn is the most beautiful time of year here in Maine.  These last few weeks of harvest and warm days are always so precious as winter nears.  Amazingly, I still have flowers in bloom.  We did receive a few morning frosts, but the hardy plants shook it off and continued about their business. 

Final Bouquet of 2014

Red roses are still blooming in my garden, along with sunflowers, morning glories, hydrangeas, coneflower and stock. Everything else looks seasonally mangy and spent.

 
Sunflower and Busy Bees

I can always tell when the final days are near, because not a single flower is empty of bees.

Poison Ivy 

Yes, it's ridiculous how beautiful this poisonous plant is in the fall.  We have fought many battles--and the ivy won because I'm not willing to flood my woods with poison.  It sent me to the hospital twice. Some people are immune to its toxins, but I am not one of those lucky few.  It continues to thrive in the woods surrounding my garden.  I've studied quite a bit on this plant and use it often in my books. Expect a more detailed post soon on how to identify it and treatments I've used.     

   

Hydrangea Tree

Every yard needs a hydrangea tree. They are the most forgiving shrub, prefer morning sun, and produce an abundance of beautiful blooms every year.  In the fall the blossoms turn the loveliest shade of rose.  Harvest them and they will dry as is and are perfect for arrangements.

Sunlight Through a Red Maple

That point of light in the photo is the sun back lighting the tree.  It was stunning to see.

Winged Creature On a Coneflower

I'm not quite sure what type of winged creature this is, a butterfly or a moth, but it found the last coneflower (echinacea) blooms.  This photo was taken over a week ago and the flowers are still alive but faded. Birds are now enjoying their seeds.

Morning Glories and My Bulldogs

I took these photos this morning. It's unusual to have morning glories in bloom this late in October. They are growing over shepherd's hooks with lanterns, but as you can see the vines have hidden everything underneath. The rest of the garden is pretty much spent. My bulldogs love to walk (and sprint) through our garden.     

Sammy

This is my older girl.  She's photo bombing the Autumn eNewsletter promo shoot.  The collar was just put back on her for visiting friends along a major highway.  She was returned to me in the back of a police car, after I had spent the morning searching for her.  So, she's on house arrest for a while until I can trust her not to wander into danger.  The final chosen photo...  

Jan's eNews, Autumn 2014

I always do fun things for my eNews, with exclusive recipes and book news.  I only send four a year. Winter 2014 is next and may include Sophie's cinnamon roll recipe for the holidays.  You can subscribe here if you're interested.  Your email is never shared and you can unsubscribe at the bottom of each newsletter.

Hope you're enjoying this beautiful season wherever you are, and reading something just for fun!

All my best,

Jan

Summer Happenings

I hope everyone is having a beautiful summer so far!  I have book news, appearances, and garden pictures to share.  

First, I have finally committed to writing an e-newsletter.  You can subscribe here on my website, and each newsletter will include exclusive news, book releases and fun happenings. The sign-up process is easy and your email will never be shared.  Also, I'm writing each letter personally, so at this time I'm only planning to send four a year.  Quarterly is such a lovely word, isn't it?  Much like the changing of the seasons.  My summer newsletter will be sent soon.

Book News:
I am so thrilled to share with you that Koko's Journal, along with the illustrations, will be included in Summer Moon, and available September 30, 2014.  I can't thank my editor and publishing house enough for all the extra work they put into making this happen.  The drawings will be in black and white, but you can read the excerpts and view the paintings in color on my website...

Click here to go to Koko's Journal

Illustrations from Koko's Journal found in Summer Moon scattered around my desk.

Koko's Journal excerpt of Luc, the hero in Summer Moon.

A few minor changes were made to the cover of Summer Moon but it's finalized, and I simply love it, so I'm going to share it yet again.

Cover illustration by Gordon Crabb
Cover design by Diana Kolsky

In the Garden:
On another subject, but one I adore, my garden is in full bloom, and this is my favorite time of year in Maine. So here's a summer toast, if you will, starting with the first bouquet of summer arranged in a champagne glass.

A toast to summer.

My favorite planter of the year is this following basket.  I had a hodgepodge of leftover annuals I needed to use, so I planted them all together in a basket and they seem quite happy with the situation.

A basket of flowers.

I love pairing growing vines that flower at the same time.  This first one is an example of one I like.  It's honeysuckle and clematis.

Honeysuckle and clematis pairing.

However, this second pairing was an accident.  It's a clematis vine twisted around delphinium. Unfortunately, delphinium hate to have their roots messed with so it will stay twisted, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. :)

Clematis twisted around delphinium.

Every year I trim the Dutchman's pipe vine away from the garden bell, and every year it finds its way back. It's so beautiful that I usually let it stay the season. Elen, my female protagonist in book 3 of the Celtic Wolves Series, has a gift with plants and I am using my own garden as inspiration for her character.  

Dutchman's pipe vine around the garden bell.

Dutchman's pipe is an aggressive vine, so plant it in an area you want to cover.  I created the arch below simply by bending a rod of metal rebar and placing the ends in the fence posts on either side of the gate.  The vine makes it look pretty, and it was my husband's idea, which makes me enjoy it even more.

Dutchman's pine vine arching over the garden gate.

Wherever you are, I hope you're enjoying your summer!
All my best,
Jan