Putting away summer

 I've spent the past few days cleaning up in anticipation of our first good rain since spring.  It's hard to believe the rainy forecast when it was sunny warm, and I was out in a tank & shorts.  Instead of the big structure I did last year to keep some youngin's dry, I'm trying a smaller pop-up tent.  

The one plant that truly needs to be completely dry for winter is Aloe Suzannae.  It doesn't even like much summer water. I don't like to gossip, but Suzannae is a demanding wench. Rare to flower, cream colored and open at night.  Does the tent please you, miss S?

Since the greenhouse is full, this actually worked out -I put a a few more "winter dry is better" things in the pop-up with the aloe. Now, if it will hold up to wind, we will see. 

Swept and moved the couch. The eave above keeps this area from getting drenched.

Greenhouse crammed, I haven't turned on the Christmas lights the past 2 years I guess I should remove them? The C9 bulbs can increase the temp. One of those thermometers doesn't work, it was 80° in there. 

I threw out the couch cushions the squirrels have hatched up.  And took the others up to store in the empty house, nice not to overload the garage.  "Hey woman, where's my nap pad?" 

"It's fine, I guess".

Really, I don't know much longer this sofa bed will make it.  Starting to fall apart, I've zip-tied and elasti-taped it to death.  

Zoom out (the greenhouse is behind me).  Picked up and put away pots here and there. The clouds forming reminded me that rain really is on the way.

I made my way up to the shade house, I wanted to prune the Arbutus a bit.

I was reminded how naughty the squirrels have been.  Discarded plants, moss/soil and broken pots galore!

I practically emptied it, I got in a mood after seeing all the squirrel mess.  The white chair is full of Tillandsia, air plants they've pulled down and thrown about. 

Did some pruning, could do more.

It felt grand to get some sense of order. 

 4:30 pm, dang.  It really is a goodbye to summer. 

Turning back around, the Tower of Tropical Glory has had some success with things rooting - but we will see what winter throws at it.  It is in need of a clean-up, but I'll leave it be for now. 

Now to the front, the leaves from the trees are gorgeous.  

I'm trying to enjoy the color, even though I know I'll be cleaning all those fallen leaves soon 😓

My copy/take on the planting I was drawn to... from Gerhard's plant sale.  

I had an empty pot and a Tephrocactus papyracanthus sitting around, why not?

I was going to build a cover for the island of Agave VR &  nickelsiae -  but for now, no.  It's built up and planted in a good draining mix. *I might regret that? 

Why?  Why did I plant an Aloe Hercules right butt up on a Silver Leucadendron?  I'm hopeless.  Anyway, I need to move the aloe.  

Or I'll wait and see how they fare over the winter, and then move it, move it.

I shared on instagram, but not here.  The Hakea laurina is blooming.  The blooms utterly ridiculous. The yellow is the young just opened bud, then it becomes the looped white on pink.

Then to a full pincushion. Whoever was in charge of creating trees that day, thank you!

One other attempt to keeping a plant winter dry, I call this Hechtia under Temu plant umbrella.  

My confidence that this stays in one piece and IN the pot, is 2/10.

Happy fall, y'all! 🍁🍂🍂🍁🍁