Goodbye Summer!

Last week, when it was still summer, I went to the NC Arboretum with my visitors.  I couldn't resist taking some pictures of the late summer flowers and foliage.  Since there are quite a few photos in this post, I will keep my comments to a minimum.

As you can see, it was a partially sunny day and the leaves are still mostly green.  The water features were all operating in spite of the dry spell we have been having.  The air temperature was a delightful mid-70's.

Now the photos...

 Many of the large containers around the fountain had these beautiful trumpet flowers.

Lots of shades of fuchsia and bright pinky salmon.

 One interesting flower in the Garden of Promise was the fall crocus.  They are rather gangly with little foliage, but their delicate petals catch the sun nicely.

 Shades of white and green in the flowers and foliage.

 I thought the purple pea pods were a lovely end to this annual plant.

 This hoya was in blossom in the green house.  It reminds me of the hoya I still have that has survived  from a cutting taken from my grandmother's home in Minnesota, probably 50 or more years ago.  My hoya's foliage thrives with neglect, but it has been a long time since it has blossomed.  I remember it trailing many feet long around the picture window in the dining room of my first house (40 years ago).  Apparently it loved that exposure.  When it blossoms the flowers are really sickeningly sweet and moisture drips from them, so I really don't miss that.  But it was a treat to see one in bloom.  The leaves are thick and shiny, so it does make a pretty houseplant.

 Pretty soon we will be appreciating the pansies that tend to survive our rather mild winter.

This week we said goodbye to a wonderful Summer and hello to what we hope will be a wonderful Fall.