Cusp of Fall in the Garden

We've had the house and deck

power washed.  Then the patio pavers 

were relaid to level it out for chairs.

We've used the deck and patio

several times this summer

social distancing with friends

and family during Covid-19.

The stone walk to the patio

had to be raised to match

the new level of the pavers.

We did it ourselves!

I like the combination of pavers,

local stone, landscape and pea gravel 

with the mulched plantings.

The only true fall-blooming plants

are the liriope or lilyturf, a

groundcover near the faucet.

and the Black-eyed Susans.

The marigolds are at their

peak now too.

The annual butterfly weed

is dispersing its seeds

like a milkweed plant.

A neighbor gave me a

hint to increase bloom right now

on the cusp of fall as 

the blooms in the garden decrease.

She uses 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts

in a gallon of water and sprays

everything blooming or not.

I tried it and got great results.

The fuchsia in the hanging 

basket revived.

The zinnias bloomed

despite the slug damage.

And the balloon flowers

popped up again.

The dahlias in their

pots rebounded too.

I didn't spray the huge

butterfly bush. I haven't

seen many butterflies 

recently, but the fat-bottomed

bees are prevalent.

Oh, no! Are we on the cusp of

deck repair now.  This bee is also called

carpenter bee because it burrows into

wood structures...