After last Saturday's garden tour, I find myself in a reflective mood. You had questions. I've got answers. I couldn't get to all of you on tour day so I'll address some things here. I also heard some people didn't get to visit. It was a great tour. I'm sorry you missed it. This post is for you too. Rosa 'Carefree Beauty' rose against the split rail fence that surrounds the back garden. I'm taking as many photos of my favorite rose as I can because I fear Rose Rosette may claim it soon. However, a quick aside. I'm listening to Jewel's new cd, Picking Up The Pieces. It's deeply personal and a companion to her newly-published autobiography, Never Broken: Songs Are Only Half the Story, which I'm also reading. I'm a big fan of her music, but I find the autobiography hard going because her childhood was tough. There is...

Hello gang! I bet you thought I would be MIA for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Nope, I ran outside this morning to take a few photos of what's blooming at RDR. I restricted today's pics to the back garden and the back borders. I didn't go out to the potager, or to the beds out by the street, although they are blooming with abandon too. I recently wrote about those beds as I mused about an October state of mind, and there's a photo with Maddie, my dog, sulking in front of the pink muhly grass. Before we get started, here's an overall view of the back garden. Overall view of the back garden in October. I think it looks pretty good because we've worked all year keeping things tidy for the garden tour this Saturday. I hope those of you who can will come. I want to...

Here's the video of four out of six of the gardens that will be on the Oklahoma garden tour this Saturday. I think my garden is the first one profiled. I hope you enjoy it. Many thanks to our local Oklahoma Gardening for spending the day with all of us. Garden tour proceeds go to horticulture students throughout the state. If you only want to see my garden, they pulled out just that section too. Choices, choices. I just love that crazy expression on my face. A special shoutout to Kevin Gragg for making my garden look its very best. Thanks!

As I step outside my back door just after dawn, my Nikon hangs over my shoulder and across my hip. I balance a cup in my right hand and take a sip of PG Tips. It's cool enough this morning for hot tea, but I can't linger. The garden beckons. The fountain on the back deck burbles, and it's the only sound I hear because the morning creatures are still asleep. Down the steps of the deck I go and into the back garden gravel crunching under my feet. Pumpkins, hostas, variegated Solomon's seal and lime green creeping Jenny. This morning is cool and overcast, belying that Oklahoma is in the middle of an October heat wave. The mercury will top 89°F this afternoon, but fall skies will be the clearest shade of Prussian blue. Purple chairs in the back garden look blue in this photo. Blue skies and fall color are only two reasons I'm in an...