Autumn, Winter, Spring - That's November!

One of the best things about living in Ohio is that we get to experience all four seasons. No...we REALLY experience them to their fullest. We have lots of 90-degree temperatures in the summer, along with that suppressing humidity that makes it feel even hotter. And we can have feet of snow and howling winter winds that give us wind chills in the -40s. Thankfully, those extremes aren't usually sustained, but they're not uncommon either.

When the weather has to transition from such widely varied conditions, we can have some pretty volatile situations. Tornadoes are just a way of life here, especially in the spring as welcome warmer air makes its way to us. Hot and cold just don't mix very well.

We can have tornadoes in the fall too, as the reverse is true; cold air comes our way, then summer decides to give an encore. Indian summer - that period of warm weather after the first killing frost - is a welcome last call. But sometimes it gets carried away and like this past Monday, we can be under the threat of tornadoes once again.

All turned out well, and though we were a little windblown, the mild temperatures allowed us to get outside and enjoy the last few days of don't-need-a-coat-yet weather. I cleaned up some hosta mush and cut down the hardy hibiscus stalks. Blackened peony foliage no longer lies in a heap.

And the chickens got to get out and enjoy a little free range time in the yard.

As I went about my business, I took in the beauty that is still here - the colors that winter will soon steal from us and replace with brown and cover with white.

Oakleaf Hydrangea
(Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen')

Pennisetum setaceum

Hydrangea macrophylla

Heuchera 'Christa'

As if we don't have enough cats around here...

Barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'Crimson Pygmy')

Fothergilla major 'Mt. Airy'

Azalea 'Bollywood™'

Asparagus officinalis

Rosa 'Chihuly' with 'Disneyland' in the background

Even the stray Tinker Belle is dressed in her fall finest. (Has anyone lost a cat?)