Illumination® OrangeTuberous Begonia by Proven Winners

Click in the Gallery above for closer look!

The Illumination Orange Begonia by Proven Winners that I found at a local Garden Center has been growing on my front porch since early June.    I’m loving the heat these summer favorites are putting off during these cool days of Autumn.   I think they are one of my favorite blooms not only because of their continuous flowering but because they are low maintenance.   I might try and winter these over in my greenhouse or even try housing them in a room attached to my garage that is full of windows.   These blooms are hardy up to 30*F.

The hanging baskets in this photo have been feed with Authentic Haven Brew.

Happy Bloom Tuesday Everyone!  What summer blooms are you enjoying into Autumn?

This next Monday on #gardenchat we will having an Open Forum from 9 – 10 p.m. EST  I would also like to invite you to share some thoughts on future #gardenchat topics.

Submit your Questions HERE!

Need more information on #gardenchat ? Click HERE for details on how-to participate.

Don’t forget to check out the new FACEBOOK page at #gardenchat on Facebook.

Something  about walking the black swamp woods this time of year puts me in a  trance.  It is almost like exploring another time which makes me lose track of the world outside of the woods.   I can’t help but wonder if I am sharing that walk with someone unknowing.

Perhaps that other is in disguise or here from another plant?  Come on , work with me… could be!

Maybe they have arrived in packs?

Hidden in Nature just waiting to come out.

What do you think?  One thing I know for sure is I can’t keep it WORDLESS on an Autumn Wednesday.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!  I hope you are able to get out and enjoy those Autumn leaves crunching under your feet in the woods or where ever your trails maybe.  Be sure to watch out for those Aliens! – Bren ♥

As the nights begin to creep down closer to freezing I can’t help but wonder how many more Bloom Tuesdays shares from outdoors we will enjoy for this year.  To some the thoughts of Autumn includes putting the blooms to sleep for the winter and a rest period of sort to prepare for next season in the new year.

In between photo edits from freelance work I have picked up recently, I’m hustling to get my second home filled with the blooms I wish to enjoy during the winter months.   Not only am I feeling a bit rushed due to the date of the first frost quickly approaching I also feel over whelmed with what blooms will be saved.   I wish I could put my entire garden into the greenhouse and or sunroom in our home.    I do believe the gardening bug has bit me hard this year!

To Celebrate the Late Harvest

Today I share this hillbilly Tomato.  It just maybe one of the last of the tomatoes to be pulled from the veggie garden this year. One thing I learned this week about this tomato is deer seem to enjoy them.  I had a pile near the woodline that were over ripped that were gone in this morning.  The only thing left in the area where the pile once sat were deer tracks.   Interesting…… I had no idea deer enjoy tomatoes.

Happy Bloom Tuesday Everyone!

Guest host Shawna Coronado ( @ShawnaCoronado ) joins #gardenchat on October 18 at 9 p.m. (ET) to answer your questions and share her knowledge and tips about growing a front yard veggie garden that can help feed a community. You won’t want to miss it!

Shawna Lee Coronado is the author of the critically acclaimed book, Gardening Nude, which is a guide for living a green lifestyle. Building community and educating others on how to do so has become Shawna’s driving passion since she experienced a dramatic life transformation.
Shawna also has a gardening blog, The Casual Gardener, which is based on her original newspaper column. The Casual Gardener educates the online community on sustainable gardening, home vegetable production, and techniques for every day homeowners to save money and feed the hungry during a down-economy. Her goal with the blogs and online presence is to better the world through community involvement and simple living.

Shawna speaks internationally on building community, simple living, and green lifestyle tips for the everyday person. She consults for corporate entities as well, educating on how green living can reduce expenses and enhance business by improving sales. Shawna also focuses on social media as a marketing tool. She often speaks on how social media is a “green lifestyle” concept which can be successfully implemented by her readers and their businesses. For example, Free State Social is one of her keynote speaking events in the 2010 season.

Shawna has been featured on ABC News (Chicago), WGN 9 News (Chicago), Oklahoma Gardening TV, Local Access 10 TV, WGN Radio, The Mike Nowak Radio Show, and More Hip Than Hippie. Special written features on Shawna can be found on CNN Health, Chicago Tribune Local, and The Daily Herald.  Check out Shawna’s blog featured on Chicago Now at : http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/gardening-nude/

We look forward to hearing all about Growing a Front Lawn Veggie Garden from Shawna this Monday Night at 9p.m. EST.

Please CLICK HERE to submit your questions for Shawna Coronado to answer on Monday Night.

I’m looking forward to this weeks #gardenchat and I hope to see you drop by to join in the fun. I would also love to hear from you about this blog entry.  Let me know what you think about Twitter.

Guest host P Allen Smith joined #gardenchat on October 11 at 9 p.m. (ET) answering your questions and sharing his knowledge and tips for raising backyard chickens.  I don’t think anyone left that chat not wanting a few hens of their own!   If you missed this event you can check out the transcript at Transcript for 10/11/10 #Gardenchat / P.Allen Smith

P.Allen Smiths' Home Collection

Also be sure to check out P.Allen Smiths Garden Home Site.

I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Allen in Chicago at the IGC show this summer.  I was on assignment for The Garden World Report. My images of P.Allen Smiths Garden Home products will be featured at on The Garden World Report in the months to come.    My favorite items in the display at the IGC / Chicago show was the Christmas wreaths featuring dried fruit.  You are going to love his collection this Holiday so be sure to watch for P.Allen Smith Holiday Collection in stores soon.

Join is next week for the #gardenchat on Twitter where Shawna Coronado will be sharing her information on Growing a Front Yard Vegetable Garden.