sugar maples at the "wow" stage

I woke up this morning to the glow of sugar maple yellow, because leaves on the trees across the street have reached their peak. I was glad to have an incentive to trot right outside and harvest some for my windowsill arrangement.

let the rooting begin

Actually, I should have started trying to root some of my favorite things from the garden (scented geraniums, this upright basil, etc.) much earlier, but recent really warm weather makes me think I'm not late! Anyway, here are some shoots from a wonderful, upright basil that should root in water, but whether or not I succeed in carrying the plants (assuming the shoots root) all the way through the winter remains to be seen. Stay tuned!

marigolds in candy corn vase

Linda Armstrong gave me this wonderful vase. There's a small, water-holding chamber in each section, and into each chamber I've dropped tiny marigolds, a little scented geranium foliage, and some yellowing peony foliage. So Halloween-esque!

one nasturtium stem--again

On Oct. 12 I posted an tiny arrangement featuring this nasturtium stem. Look what has happened to it since! It has unfurled in a really beautiful way! Decided to display it today with a different tile behind it and a little moss tucked into the neck of the bottle.

oak-leaved hydrangea leaves

There are so many gorgeous leaves on the oak-leaved hydrangeas right now that I found it impossible to choose one to display, Instead, I gathered up a handful of them of various sizes and colors, and here they are! I've got a chop stick wedged in front of them to keep them upright.

goldenrod in spool of twine

There's a spice bottle nested in this spool of twine, and it's holding water for the goldenrod and scented geranium leaves, This goldenrod is not as vibrant as it once was, but for having been used in half a dozen arrangements over the past couple of weeks, it's looking pretty good!

And here's an arrangement Linda Armstrong did in her very gorgeous window.

And here's Lyde Longaker's window. Ooh, la, la!

Last rose of summer?

This may not be the very last rose of the season, but it sure is a pretty one. I nested a floral tube in the spool of rafia to provide the rose some water.