The new "Taj MaHutch!"

 

Our outdoor bunnies, "Butter" and "Peppercorn" have a new hutch!  The old one was beginning to break down with rotting wood, so it was time to start over.  Jake agreed to tear down the old structure and begin again.  He said he had never built a rabbit hutch, but had built a chicken coop, and was willing to give the rabbit hutch a try.  

This is Jake.  He was great to work with and did an outstanding job of the rabbit hutch!

"Goodbye" old hutch and "Welcome" new hutch!

 

Fall is a good time for change.  We had Loropetalum 'Ruby' providing a partial border around an Acer rubrum in our front yard.  We had one of the shrubs die this year and decided that this may be a good time for a change, so Tom had the difficult job of digging out all of the Loropetalum.  In their place, we decided to continue with the sweep of  Dryopteris erythrosora (Autumn Fern) we had started.  

Watering in the new Autumn Ferns

I look forward to late summer and early fall when my Toad Lilies are blooming.  I have to keep them caged because bunnies like them, too!

Tricyrtis hirta 'Miyazaki'
This is my favorite toad lily.

Tricyrtis formosana 'Gilt Edge'

  

"Mums the Word!"  Fall means the mums are showing off in their glory!

 

Ajania pacifica (Gold and Silver Chrysanthemum)

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium "Fanny'

                         

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium 'Hillside Sheffield Pink'

                                        

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium 'Cathy's Rust'

               

                                                             

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium 'Gethsemane Moonlight'
(This was a new addition this summer and I am delighted to get a couple of blooms).

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium 'Raydon's Favorite'


   
      

 Oh boy, oh boy!  Tom and I found a new nursery!  It's Cline's nursery in Shelby, NC.  We visited there a couple of weeks ago, and we were out of control ... purchased 6 more Japanese maples PLUS some other plants we "needed."  Cline's delivered yesterday.  Our plan is to plant three of these new maples in 3 blue pots in the moss garden in our front yard.  We love the contrast of the bright blue pots and the light green moss.  

 

This unusual tropical, Mussaenda 'Queen Sirkit,' is blooming late this year, and I don't know why ... at least she bloomed!  She lives on our sun porch during the winter, but is much happier when she is outside.  

                                                                            

 

Our camellia sasanquas are just beginning to bloom ... 

Camellia sasanqua 'Setsugekka'

Camellia sasanqua 'Show-a-no-sake'

Camellia sasanqua 'Delilah'

 

Hedera helix (Hardy Bush Ivy) is a fall favorite.  The bees love the unique flower clusters ... and I do, too!

 

 

                                

WELCOME FALL!!  We've had a good rain, temperatures are much more pleasant, and the mosquitos are on the way to their winter home.

Chelone lyonii 'Hot Lips' continues to bloom into the fall.

Ilex verticillata 'Winter Gold'

 

Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate'

     

   Tom and I have been playing the children's game of "Pick Up Sticks" since Hurricane's Ian's visit.  

                                                      

                            

This is my efforts from ONLY the front yard!!  

Tom has this much or more from the upper garden!!  Still more to go!

Things could have been much worse, so we are very thankful.

                               

 Hurricane Ian was downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it came through Charlotte.  Visions of Hurricane Hugo were still in our memories, so we were nervous about what was headed our way.  Having the downstairs tavern and office flooded twice, Tom made sandbags to go at the door to stop any rising water.  Whenever we have storms, I am most concerned about the wind and the possibility of downed trees.  

Concerned about our outside bunnies, we brought Butter and Peppercorn inside for the night.  We put them in a dog crate in the office, but also let them run around the tavern for a bit of exercise.  Maple and Kiwi were royally entertained!