We had our first frost a couple of days ago here. Surprised us but not a hard frost yet.

I like your dalhia. Mine are still blooming here even with the frost. Never seen a cucumber beetle. Interesting critter. Cute sign for fall. Foliage here is slowing turning and should be quite colorful in by the end of the month.

Julia

I've never seen Indian Ripple that color, but the cooler temps do darken daylily colors. The dahlia is a gorgeous shade of pink. How nice that Mary's Baby is reblooming. Mine rebloomed last year. This year it was given to one of my dog walking friends in the neighborhood. I like your sign and the plants around it!

We had a very patchy frost a couple of nights ago. We usually don't get a hard freeze until November.

Debra

I've just been so busy with the changing of the guard so to speak, that I missed Joan Senior blooming still. She had a nice pair of twins, but I didn't have time to get out the camera.......Julia: Interesting that a light frost didn't bother your Dahlias. I don't know what to do about overwintering mine. It's not like I don't have enough pots to find winter homes for again. No colorful leaves this fall for us. Our drought these last 4 months has set a new record. Because of the drought situation, leaves are just turning brown and falling off. Most of the trees and shrubs look just plain worn out........Debra: I take it that you no longer will be growing Mary's Baby. Well, your Star Lord looks to be a good one to replace it with. I'm tempted, but alas it's an Ev...........Nan: I guess I'm the only one not to have a frost yet. This Saturday we are due a colder front (but not a frost). Enough so that I will be scrambling to get my Cactus and Succulents inside............Maryl

Love the dahlia color! And look at your potted culture reblooming! i finally got a rain last night-first rain in four weeks so my trees look like yours. First frost here is expected next week for one night-then temps go back up!

Maryl - Yes, it's true that I won't be growing Mary's Baby anymore. It never did well here after grubs ate the roots the first fall it was planted. I know it was an exceptional grower for you and Mantis, but I prefer its children Star Lord and Steven Scott Derrow with their larger flowers. I used to grow its mother, Mary Lightfine, and I may add that one back someday.

Debra

Love the dahlia! You should indeed be happy to have a bloom in October. Enjoy! We had our first rain in a month yesterday, and it was a good one. I have been working in the garden daily for the last couple of weeks. I am getting there with the cardboard and mulching in my new area and have planted quite a few pansies since they bloom through the winter here. It has been great fun!

kay

Kate and Kay: So happy to hear you all got rain. We are due some this week-end, but it's not predicted to be much. I'll take anything if I can get a day off from watering. The moles are going crazy in my yard and having to walk all over dragging a hose is a recipe for a broken ankle if I don't pay attention.............Debra: We all grow what suites our climate and taste best. If I grew mine in ground I'd probably give a whirl to Star Lord as it looks so much like Mary's Baby. I'm really coming round to the thin white lines as the edging on dark colors such as Mary's Baby and Star Lord. Of course, ruffles will always appeal to me, but there's something about the simplicity of that edge that highlights the base color so well............Maryl