Where is fall?

A pumpkin spice zinnia? This year has been good for the zinnias. They keep blooming no matter what. The weather has been warm and will continue to be so. Fall usually has comfortable days and cool nights, but it seems the warmth continues. I'm not a fan of hot days, especially when teaching. Also, I've been hesitant to plant garlic, but I may have to take the plunge soon. Below is the current state of my second planting of lettuce. I haven't been vigilant about thinning, so the plants are smaller than usual, but that's okay. Anything I get this time of year feels like a bonus. Below that are the asters I planted last spring and worked to save from the rabbits. I'm going to try to save some seeds to plant next spring...and I'll try to outsmart the bunnies. 

September Update

The zinnias have perked up in our recent rains. These are a welcome burst of color as other things fade. (I may have faded on my blogging, too.)

The strawberries have rallied, too. The five plants I saved (note the fence surrounding them) are shooting runners out in ever direction. 

We may have been in a drought, but I got plenty of tomatoes. The wind blew the plants over, so I gathered them in all states of ripeness. I donated quite a few. Also, this wagon? It was a gift from my hubby when we first got married. It's seen a lot of wear and tear as a toy and a garden tool. That's why the old sheet (saved for frost protection) is there, to protect the tomatoes from dirt and rust. 

A couple of weeks ago, the bees enjoyed teh pruple coneflower...and now the birds are eating the seeds. See the spot of yellow on the left side below? That's a gold finch.

In other notes, the zucchini did very well, and the green beans are still producing a bit. The second crop of lettuce is in the seedling stage. And I'll leave you with the Winnipeg Parks rose. I'm loving this vibrant fuchsia!