Sunday Bits #47 (Autumnal colours, how to find that right shade of Sage, and flea beetles)

I bought my first mums this week. Slowly starting to merge into autumn. Is funny how it happens... One day I am loving the pinks and purples and then suddenly I think they look too bold and flashy, just too much.

Suddenly, all I want to see is orange, brick red, and gold. I have no idea where those mums are going to go as of yet, but I have 4 of them to put somewhere, and am on the lookout for more.

Autumn Garden Bits

Verbena bonariensis hanging out with my hydrangeas. Such a pretty, airy flower.

These seeds are on my buy list for next summer. I love verbena bonariensis but it has always been so hard to find! I used to let it grow wherever it popped up on the acreage, with the hopes that it would self seed everywhere. I always had a few plants but never enough ; )

Let your radishes, lettuces, brassicas, etc go to seed to attract pollinators and beneficial insects.

This article about how to get rid of flea beetles. I know it is the wrong season for this read but maybe pin it for spring? I use companion planting to attract the beneficial insects who get rid of these guys pretty quick, but the problem is that the flowers are not always flowering as early as flea beetles show up. In that case, what I like to do is plant a few radishes as sacrificial plants. Sow a row, a border, or a few plants and let the beetles go at them. Leave them be when they go to seed, as well, for the pretty blossoms that attract pollinators while the radish leaves work as a lure crop. Sow a row of onions or scallions beside your leafy plants to keep the beetles away, as well.

How to make your fall garden the best ever. Please, please, please read the bit about fertiliser! So important.

Autumn Homey Bits

Make your own foraged wreath with these great ideas.

This read is about the white oak flooring but I loved it more for the beautiful photos of the house. The kitchen, the foyer, the closet... you need to check it out. So many lovely ideas or just drool worthy pictures. That blue is almost the perfect blue, too.

I have been asked about finding the perfect sage colour many times... this read might just have the answer for you. Great sage hues from light to dark.

Remember the article last week about how to make your honey oak cabinet colour work? It was so good, right? Well, this week it is how to make your cherry cabinets work! They are all so great, love the kitchen with the duck, that lovely eating nook, but wow, that bathroom is to die for!

Autumn Recipe Bits

Where do you stand on pumpkin spice coffee? My daughter gave me a cup of coffee, nice and strong and black... but then I smelled it. Ugh, you guys, the coffee smelled like canned creamed corn! The taste was less yucky but I'm sticking with my unflavoured dark roasts ; )

These apple turnovers. Oh my! Need to make these asap!

This recipe for skin on applesauce!

Heart smart leek and salmon pasta. I feel like this needs a bit more veggies in it, but is a good starting point.

This squash and spinach pasta dish! and if you like that one, check out these other fall pasta dishes, too.

Go pick up a day timer to use as a garden journal.

Back to school is the perfect time to pick up a day timer or journal for your gardening needs. I like day timers as I can keep my notes in there, what to sow now, what I want to grow, plus this year's garden is fresh in my mind, so I journal about what I want to change for next year. I am making lots of changes next year! In this picture, see some of the seeds I am sowing In October for earlier blooms and edibles next spring.

Hope you enjoyed this week's Bits of Autumn.

Happy Weekend ~Tanja