Late September is a keep on keeping on time for us. The gardens are still puffing away practically under their own steam and we won’t start pulling the brakes until after the house closes (Columbus Day weekend). Now’s the time for noticing.

Gail looked up in the Bosquet and noticed a bouquet. Mushrooms on a tree (in this case a Norway maple – Acer platanoides) are, unfortunately not a sign of health…

I noticed this praying mantis noticing me. (and I can’t seem to not take a picture when I spot one!)

This swallowtail caterpillar noticed only the carrot greens.

The Moongate Sophora is so laden with seedpods that if you don’t take notice, it will bean you.

One of the Rockettes noticed a praying mantis egg case in the False indigo (Baptisia australis). – Why do they choose plants we cut back?

Kari also noticed green tipped, spooned petal mutations on some Zinnia Profusion Double Pink in the North Garden. (She thinks we ought to have it patented and market it as the Blithewold Zinnia – it is that cool!)

I noticed how a Rudbeckia was deadheaded. — The first gardening job I ever had, I was given little instruction and free run on the grounds of a small school in CA. In order to fly under the radar of my boss (a tiresome and rather fatuous bump) I taught myself fairy-like subtlety and elfish stealth. — I was worried enough about doing the wrong thing that I made sure that what I did, didn’t show. Turns out, when it comes to deadheading, that’s a good thing to do! Rather than pop a deadhead off leaving a bare stick flagpole above the leaves, it’s less noticeable to make the cut at a leaf or better yet, a new bud. I like to look around the garden and see where I’ve been without being able to see where I’ve been!

What’s noticeable to you?