Pinterest

Friday, October 19, 2012

Fall's Floral Post Cards

 
I finally had some time the other day to get outside and actually enjoy some fall colors and stuff around me.  Fall comes last to our lake front shores, so we usually have to drive a few miles south of here to experience it sooner.  However, I did have a patch of these beautiful zinnias and marigolds that really screamed "fall" to me." Yes, they're not asters and mums, but during this season their colors take center stage in the garden.

  
These Persian Carpet flowers fool you at first in to thinking they are marigolds, but are actually a unique variety of zinnias.  So cool, and actually they reseeded themselves from last year.  They are only about 12 inches tall and come in all colors and markings.  If you don't have a friend that grows these for seeds, you can find them here.



I called these marigolds "naturalized" because they reseeded themselves and came back in all different ways.  The original seeds were hybrid marigolds, bred for a certain coloring and small size, but when they reseed they start to return to their wild ancestors and grow tall and bushy. I liked all the different paint splotches of color on the petals.

The petals of these marigolds look like crushed velvet...lovely!

 These "Mysotis" or perennial "Forget-Me-Nots" in their lavender purple color look like icing on a cake.  Their delicate petals lend a soft and soothing backdrop to the bolder colors of red, yellow and orange. I planted these once and they come back vigorously year after year.  You'll want to give them room in the garden.


The random fall frosts show their telling signs with wilted petals, but still leave the flower heads with lots of visual interest.  The lavender color of this Mysotis is still strong, but the browns behind it lend an overall designer touch.


Just a few  floral "postcards" for you to enjoy.  It's amazing how fall can show up in a small patch of reseeded marigolds and zinnias...I guess it's all perspective!  Blessings!

Enjoy the photos?  You may be interested in these other posts...Flower photos in the Rain and Amazing Butterflies.

Linked to these blog parties...Homestead Revival 
Hello MondayClever Chicks Blog Hop 
Living Green Tuesdays 
Take- A-Look Tuesday 
Backyard Farming Connection 
Small Footprint Friday 
Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways 
Welcome Wednesdays 
Country Homemaker Hop 
Wicked Good Wednesdays
Simple Lives Thursday 
Rural Thursdays 
Insta Friday/Life Rearranged 
A Rural Journal: Your Sunday Best 

30 comments:

  1. Goooorgeous photos! They all look so beautiful. I really like the mysotis.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I love taking flower close-ups, it makes me appreciate their up-close beauty as well... :) Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  2. Beautiful pics...Love the zinnias and marigolds! Thanks for visiting me at Little Homestead on the Hill!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you...and thanks for following! (Am following you as well!) Blessings, Nancy

      Delete
    2. So glad to have you following! Have you ever linked up with ABC Wednesday? I just did for the first time today...lots of fund posts :)

      Delete
    3. Thanks for letting me know about ABC Wednesdays, I will check them out next week! Looks like a great hop for photos and non-teaching posts...Have an amazing week! :)

      Delete
  3. Pretty flowers and photos! And nothing says autumn like pumpkins!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by! Pumpkins do for sure! :)

      Delete
  4. Lovely blooms! I've never seen zinnias quite like that before!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, I discovered them some years ago...they're really unique! :)

      Delete
  5. Your photos are beautiful!
    I love all the warm Autumn coloured flowers and your Forget-Me Not is stunning.
    I've never seen one like that before!
    blessings..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by! I really like the Forget-Me-Not too. I planted it over 15 years ago and it shows up in different places in the garden. It can be invasive, but not too much. Have a great week! Blessings, Nancy

      Delete
  6. I'm so impressed with your flowers. I especially love the zinnias!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Lisa, I really love them too. It was fun seeing them show up this year without me planting them...I LOVE flower volunteers! Thanks for visiting! Blessings, Nancy

      Delete
  7. ~ Pure Beauty ~
    Just a friendly suggestion....it's really hard to comment with word verification turned on .... you may want to turn on comment moderation instead.
    Thank you for visiting my blog!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the suggestion Kerri. Didn't know it was on, I'm new to blogging so I'll check it out...thanks!

      Delete
  8. I agree the marigolds do look like velvet! Just beautiful!!! Visiting from rural journal.
    Laurie @ pride in photos

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for visiting! I'll be sure to visit your blog as well...I love looking at everyone's photos, so much creativity! Blessings, Nancy

      Delete
  9. LOVELY photos...the flowers are beautiful ....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Debra! Have a wonderful week...blessings! Nancy

      Delete
  10. These are gorgeous Nancy -- I'm such a big fan of zinnias and I tried the striped variety and really enjoyed them this year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Nancy. I think I know what you're talking about, "Candy Cane" variety or something like that; they are beautiful! They make a beautiful cutting flower too. Glad you enjoyed your so much... :)

      Delete
  11. Happy Fall.

    I enjoy seeing all these, though have not experienced before in Malaysia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I visited your blog too...beautiful! Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  12. Your flowers are all gorgeous. This year I learned that cross-pollination is responsible for 'volunteer' or self-seeding flowers to emerge with different colors and patterns than the originals.

    Thanks so much for sharing with YSB this week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheryl, thanks for stopping by and hosting the blog party. That's really interesting what you learned about the volunteer flowers too...marigolds always do this for me and I never know what I'm getting year to year! It's a fun surprise in the garden. :)

      Delete
  13. Beautiful post from start to finish!
    Visiting from Sunday Best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by Carletta...I enjoyed your photo very much too, beautiful! :)

      Delete
  14. What a gorgeous collection of fall flowers. Thank you so much for lifting my spirits on an otherwise gloomy gray day! Thanks for sharing this at the Wicked Good Wednesday Blog Party at http://www.wildernesswife.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for reading and for hosting last week's blog party too! Have a wonderful week! :)

      Delete