Is there any better combination than gardens and books? I'd like to share a special garden blog that I host, featuring the garden spots and favorite writing hideaways of over forty novelists – the authors of some of my favorite books. Click on the logo photo above and enjoy your tour!

Summer's End

The flowers are loving these cooler days we're enjoying on the last weekend in August.

A few late August scenes from the garden

As always, click on photo to enlarge.

Oh, to be a cat!

Why we live in Kansas!

The sunset August 13th looked like a Maxfield Parrish painting. Sunsets never last long enough, but oh, so gorgeous for those few brief moments!

Just peachy!

Middle of August and the Bonfire Dwarf Peach is loaded with fruit. It's ornamental, not intended for eating, and not as brightly colored as it's been in past years, but still very attractive.

Before and After

Just wanted to share a few "before and after" shots, from the day our Realtor showed us the house, until today, August 1. Five years later, what a difference.

BEFORE

AFTER

The hot tub didn't work and we didn't really care to have one anyway, so we gave it to some friends of ours and added the stairs leading to a flagstone patio.

BEFORE

AFTER

We planted an Autumn Blaze maple, left and replaced the ash tree that died with a Siberian Elm (Lacebark Elm), right. We also planted a Chanticleer Pear and Korean Sun Pear in the back yard (along with the evergreens along the fences) and several other large trees in the front yard. In a few years, we should have the leafy shade we want.