We were in the high 30's early this morning and went to 60's. .. Very refreshing. This is typical to have these bounces but we should be staying around 40's by mornng and 60's-70's. daytime. Areas west of us here in WV had in a Frost/Freeze advisory last night. Trees are turnng.. More rain on the way here late Saturday into Monday. Some sort of storm coming up the coast.

Keep the 90's by you. I can wait till next summer to reach those temps again. :-) Have a good weekend.

Julia

Similar to Julia this week. Next week in the 70’s. We should be inn the 60’s for our high. still dry here, had 1/2” of rain a few days ago…..not near enough.

Sherry

Well Maryl, we are getting fall weather here now in MKE. It’s been cool at night and in mornings, low 40’s, but by afternoon it’s warmed into the low 60s.
I finally had Bert (my garden help) move my pots into the garage for overwintering. Many things in the garden are cut back but not all. The decorative grasses are still looking good as well as my Sambucus, anemones and some coneflowers.

Won’t be long before we have our first freeze.

debra

It's nice to know that some places are having the usual cool down one associates with October. I was beginning to think everyone was still in their shorts.......As most of you know I grow a lot of plants in pots, and I just know that the weather is going to turn cold overnight one of these days and I will be madly trying to get in all my tender C&S plants.......Seems almost everyone needs rain. I'm beyond tired of watering all my pots as well as all my borders....Julia: It looks like with the storm running along the East coast may give you a good shot of rain soon.....Debra: I need a Bert in my life when it comes to pots being moved to their winter home.................Maryl

It's fall here this week: daytime highs in the 60s and low 70s and nighttime lows in the 40s. I turned the furnace on yesterday. Not many tree leaves have changed color yet.

Debra

We are in the low 70s by day, low 50's at night. Mid Oct. is our usual first frost but nothing in sight. We had a lot of rain last weekend, so still way ahead for the year despite a dry spell late August & half of September.

As to what is going on, the Sun is being very active with sun flares or spots or whatever they are called, keeping us warmer than usual.

Brad

We had had 40s and 50s at night and upper 60s or low to mid 70s by day. We did have frost on the cars Friday morning. We are still in moderate drought here. Recently when we get rain, it's such a small amount that it does no good. The fall foliage experts predict that fall color will be poor this year.

Nancy

I see most people in the more northern regions continue to have milder temperatures. I'm not a fan of cold weather, and under 65 you may well find me inside the house with the heater on. However it was 92 this afternoon when I went to church and that's too hot. No daytime 70's predicted for at least another week.....As many of you have reported, I bet there won't be much fall color for most of us................Debra: Will you be doing the color list in November this year?.........Maryl

It's a chore for both you and Sherry, but I sure enjoy it. I hope not too early in November though because I'll be rounding up the herd (of pots) and getting them to their winter positions. But you do it when it's convenient for you....

Maryl

Go for it Debra!

Sherry

It got down to 35F last night here in Colorado's Black Forest. The Aspen have changed and some have lost their leaves.

Such different fall coloration in Colorado--with the contrast of yellow and green.

The weather here has been beautiful, with sunny days a bit above normal (which is high sixties). We had ample rain last week, so the dry spell is actually welcome. After the heavy rain last week, a few newly-set-out divisions developed crown rot.

I am exhausted from all the fall division of plants. Dividing clumps is not fun. Still, I prefer fall planting. One is likely to have bloom the next season, and in recent years, hot Junes have not been friendly to spring planting.

Granted, weather this fall was difficult, with virtually no rain for seven weeks, beginning August 1. Having to water plants as well as divide them added to the exhaustion. But then came a heavy rain. And now last week, another substantial rain, leaving us just "abnormally dry."

Nicole: What a shot of the beauty in your state during the fall. That crisp clean mountain air is another thing that makes fall so nice in Colorado........Mantis: I've been waiting for you to give a report. Don't you worry about freezing temperatures dividing this late? I know the soil is probably still warm enough for the roots, but aren't you close to a "killing" freeze date about now (29 degrees or lower)? I'm happy for your relief from the drought though. Below is the closest we got to rain the other day (which it didn't)........

Maryl

I'll probably still be planting dormants the first week in November. So how about we start the color posts on Nov. 10th?

Debra

Maryl, notice that my post refers to past-tense activities, except for the exhaustion. The ideal time to divide here, provided that the weather is not too hot, would be September, but the first week of October is usually still good. We had one week in August that was ideal, but everything can't be done at the ideal time, especially when one is not young and vigorous. I think that farms that line out plants usually do so already in August. I suspect that the Watsons did that.

Fall is also a terrible time for fibromyalgic pain, perhaps because of the sharp contrast in temperatures. A busy, painful time.

Mantis: I guess I'm so out of tune with how the climate is up north that a statement about August being any good for anything other then air conditioning and Lemonade escapes me. lol.......Here October is the best month to catch up on chores in the garden, but as I ranted to my poor DH today, between appointments and anything other then the garden, along with constant watering, I'm about to run out of time to do much actual work in the garden.......I'm sorry about your pain. It's the pits and a price we all seem to pay as we get older. I'm hoping you will find some relief soon so you can enjoy the holidays............Maryl

Debra: I think the 10th should work out well for me. If it's good for you that's what counts.......Maryl

10th will be fine, looking forward to it!

Sherry

Has anyone heard from Kay or Kate? Wonder how the warmer zones are doing this fall......Maryl

After prolonged dryness, Kate had some good rain, but then dry again. She said she will be gone this weekend.

Thanks Mantis for the update. At least she got rain once. .........Maryl

Mantis is correct about my weather. Like you, Maryl, temps have been in upper 80s and even into the 90s. Extremely dry except for that one good rain. Just got home from a week long absence and grass is crunchy again!! Next week will be better temps and I hope to get more outside work done! Lots to do to get winter ready!!

I think our weather is what most of the warmer states have been experiencing. I have one Zinnia that has survived it all and is doing it's part in amongst the pansies and mums (thank you)......Today, Saturday, we are getting the promised rain. Nothing heavy, just showers. I hope it gets to you all soon............Maryl

Maryl, my profusion zinnias continue to laugh at the heat and no rain. I also have some giant zinnias (seed pack from a dollar store) that have been fabulous. And this week a fall iris bloomed-not bad for very little rain since July.

It is amazing how some things make it through our summers. This is a little display stand for Autumn flowers and you will see your Zinnia on the right. It really does a good job in this arrangement. It is red and it may be the same one in the middle of your edging Zinnias?........Maryl

Maryl, how lovely! I think that zinnia is one of the red ones-I have some in another location. The one in my pic is an orange-I can’t remember the name. It always amazes me how well your plants do in pots!!

I really need to try and grow some of those Profusion Zinnias myself next year. I just run out of time with all the repotting I have to do in spring..... Yours always look so good in the ground. Do you have rabbits and do they bother them? They aren't supposed to, but you know how that goes..............Maryl

Yes, Maryl, I have rabbits but they have not bothered the zinnias at all. Deer don’t eat my zinnias either so I am thinking about planting a living fence of tall zinnias around my daylily beds!!! lol

Say Kate, did you know there was a daylily named after you? "Lilykate". It's a '23 Selman daylily and very pretty. You get around don't you?!-lol.........Thanks for the info on rabbits and zinnias. It's good to know if I put a low pot on the ground it should be fine.............Maryl

Well, Robert told me he was going to do that but I never checked!!! No, no, no!!! Just kidding!! I did not know that but it is a great name! Haha!! Unless your rabbits are outright starving, I think low pots will be fine.

LOL. You almost had me for a moment about the Selman dayllily........Thanks for the rabbit advice.........Maryl