Well, after spending the weekend knee-deep in the pond, things seem to have gotten back to normal in my underwater kingdom.

All it took was a thorough vacuuming, restructuring of the waterfall, plant rinsing, a multi-gallon water change, adding some new microbes to break down leaves, flushing the hosing from pump to filter and trimming back the waterlillies so I can actually see the fish again.
Sounds like a bit much, huh? Fortunately the weather was warm -- a little too warm on Sunday. August usually wreaks havoc on my pond's eco system, but my being away for two whole weeks was the primary reason for such a sludge build-up. Pond maintenance is usually a lot easier when there's a little done every other day.
Despite all the work, I even had a little leftover time on Sunday to sit by the tinkling waters for some reading and watching the dogs trying to catch the frogs (they never do, the frogs are too fast). So once again, the water is crystal clear, the fish are swimming thru the bubbler with glee and the frogs are sunning themselves on lillypads. Tranquility has been restored in my backyard oasis.

While sitting by the pond, I noticed that the zebra grasses are tufting, a sure sign that fall's around the corner. My zebra grasses are having a great season, most of them are over seven feet tall (without the tufts). The tufts are the closest thing to blooming the grass does. Feather-like fronds protrude from the tall blades standing usually at least a foot taller than the grass. It's a beautiful sight, further signalling the end of my favorite season.
My Ravena grasses have been tufting since about mid-August. Their fronds are different from the zebra's. Long, strong stems emerge from the soft grass and stand anywhere from 3 to 8 feet above the blades, with feathery puffs at the top. My Ravenas are easily over 10-ft. tall this season as you can see here with the lighthouse in the foreground for comparison.

It's a sharp contrast to the fountain grass, which has much softer cattail-like tufts that hover atop the mounds of grass. Now's a good time to buy some grasses for your garden. Many varieties are available at your local nurseries and a lot of them are discounted this late in the season. There's plenty of time to get them in the ground and established before the weather turns cold!

Soon it'll be time to get out those grass trimmings from last spring, which will adorn the front of my house for autumn decoration. I can't bring myself to do it yet, that's the final nail in the coffin of summer and I'm just not ready. Especially with the weather still so nice.Enjoy!
Next up: Fall garden planning

Sorry to have left you all hanging for a few days, but I'm having a hard time finding uplifting garden topics to write about. Unlike my sister, whose favorite season is Fall, I tend to spend the beginning of the season mourning the loss of yet another summer (my fave).
And I'm still trying to recoup things after my extended vacation. (And to be honest, I'm still a little absorbed by that darn Twilight Saga. I read thru it the second time while I was away.) I think the only thing that might get the pond straightened out is a partial changing of water along with a vacuuming. Definitely a job that'll have to wait for the weekend.

In the meantime, a bright light has shown on me in the form of an email from my favorite greenhouse, Glick's in Oley (www.glicksgreenhouse.com) .
Along with tips on gathering and storing seeds from summer, there's lots going on at the greenhouse in the form of Fall colors.
Chrysanthemums are now available, 9-inch for $4.25 each/10 for $40 and 5-inch for $2.95 each. The .99 cent perennial sale is still on for what's left, and flowering cabbage and kale (9-inch) are $4.25 each/10 for $40.
Purple fountain grass, which looks great through November, is on sale for $7.95, while Icicle Pansies, which bloom now and again in late winter are $4.50 per 6-pack. They're also offering pumpkins, cornstalks and more for all your fall decorating needs.
And besides Glick's, I'm sure all of our local nurseries and greenhouses are gearing up for a great Fall season, so take the time to check them out. Also, now's the time to start looking thru all those Fall catalogs that clogged your mailbox last month. Ordering now is best to ensure you get what you want ... more on that later.
PS -- And with the nights getting longer and gardening time getting shorter, why not check out my new blog "On the Set"? You can access it thru this blog or thru The Mercury's website www.pottsmerc.com for information, updates, reviews, previews and my general musings on what's happening on television.

This past weekend was perfect weather for getting out and doing some spring cleaning in the garden.
Sorry I haven't blogged for a few days, but I've been busy. Saturday and Sunday were spent cutting down ornamental grasses, gathering fallen tree limbs (cutting and bundling, some for kindling and the rest for trash pick-up today), raking old mulch and leaves from flower beds bursting with spring bulbs and early perennials, tending the compost pile, and cutting back the butterfly bushes. After spending the winter inside looking out the window, dreaming of summer's colorful blooms, it sure felt good to get back out and into the dirt!
I mentioned my ornamental grasses above, and in case you were thinking of adding some to your garden, I can't recommend them enough! These hardy plants are perfect for people without a green thumb. They thrive in just about any area - full sun, partial or shade. And they come in all different sizes and colors!
My personal faves are Zebra or Porcupine grass (mine get about 7 ft. tall, not counting the plumes), Maiden grass (plumes to 12 ft.), Fountain grass (3 ft.), Silver grass (3 ft.) and Japanese Blood grass (just over a foot). I'm hoping to get a new variety called Northern Lights grass this year. It is yellow-orange in color and gets about 2 feet tall. I'll be checking my local garden centers for this one!
Grasses look great in the summer, some change color in the fall, and they're even pretty in the winter. Some people cut back their grasses in the fall, but I like to leave them up until spring. They add a beach feel to my yard even when covered with snow.
And when I do finally cut them down, this year using hedge-clippers (thanks for the idea Dad), I save the taller ones. They get bundled up with twine and stored in the shed over the summer. When the time comes to decorate for fall, I get them out and use them like corn stalks for decorating the front of my house. They look great and it's another way to recycle yard refuse. In November, they get chopped up and put on the compost pile, only to be recycled back into the flower beds the next spring!
More on those butterfly bushes later.
A quick update: I decided to wait to plant my perennial geraniums until May, storing them in the vegetable crisper in my fridge. As you can see, the weather is just too predictable right now.