This weekend was glorious. The last days of November and I think today made it to 70 degrees.  It was time to put the house garden and vegetable garden to bed.  Yesterday I worked in the yard and did the last of the winter pruning, weeding, tidying up, spreading leaves in the beds.  Today I spent the morning at the vegetable garden raking the oak leaves to the street corner, weeding my bed and snipping arugula and lettuce from my gardening neighbor Richard (he said I could have some).  I finished cleaning the porch at home of all gardening utensils and such.  On my way home from my veg garden, I stopped at a neighbor's to take some free canna bulbs.  They are now nestled in moss in the basement.  I've never planted them so look forward to trying it next year.  Here is what is left in bloom in the yard.

Japanese Anemone puffballs

Japanese Anemone puffballs

Rosebud - there are lots of rosebuds on a particular plant

Lavender stalk

Oakleaf hydrangea flowers

Hellebores - the first to bloom in Feb and March

It was a beautiful weekend so the kids and I did some yardwork - raking leaves for the compost and cutting back most of the perennials.  Full disclosure:  the kids were being paid for their work although I told them they were off the clock when their dad stopped by to chat and when the neighbor stopped to chat!

Here are a few things that are still in bloom or have lovely fall foliage.

Kouza Dogwood

Beautyberry

 a new plant - Amsonia - blue flowers

Asters

The stems from the Guara plant

The last remaining Blanket Flower

 A blurry flower on the rosemary

Dark Days Challenge

I have been taking a break from blogging because I just couldn't face logging on to the computer every night and thinking of things to say.

Now that the Dark Days Challenge is back, that will get me motivated to start writing again