Some mostly, temporarily, happy dahlias

You might have got the idea, somehow, that I like photographing dahlias. Can't imagine where that came from. They're tricky in this climate. They get a bit of a late start, and really start coming into their own in August. But September weather in Calgary can be, well, anything. We've had lovely long  Indian summer and we've had several feet of snow land just after Labour Day and never really leave.

This year we had a bunch of misty cold damp kind of rainy miserable days in a row, which explains why I don't live in Vancouver. I'd be homicidal half way through a Vancouver winter. 

These photos range from very late August to mid September or so. We are amazed they are doing so well. They are still hanging in, just barely, with Linda diligently covering them up every night. One of them opened just enough we can see what colour it will be. Linda wants to make notes, and we might try to start them in a temporary bed in the basement, suitably protected from cat depredations, of course.

Still, we know the end is coming soon for them. Maybe over the weekend. I will miss them.

Cranky critters

Dogs are easy. Everything is their favourite thing. Their human coming to the door is the best moment of the day, and they show it. Cats are different. Lots of times they don't even notice when we come home. When they do notice, it's this. Tells me where I rank, doesn't it?

I wasn't sure she was still alive after a cool damp night. She was moving really slowly and didn't look happy at all. I breathed on her a few times to help warm her up and she started moving. When I checked an hour later she was gone, so I'm guessing she got enough nectar to power up and head home.

Me being inconsiderate and not letting him out. He seems to like glaring at me through the window when I'm outside. Another eternity in cat hell, I'm guessing, once he gets a chance to tell the cat judge.

In other news, today was the first day we set the alarm clock in about a month. You don't want to know why.

Dahlia and steel, front and back

This is one of the new blooms from Sept 24. No idea if it will make it much further into the season, but I was struck by the contrast with the steel cattail sculpture nearby, and the reflections off it.

The red dahlia

Here's the lovely red dahlia that lives in the back patio.

Sept 9

Yes, this is still it, peering out through the white fabric we draped over it to try to protect it from the frost and the snow. Sept 14

And then Sept 17, looking a little worse for wear, but considering we thought it would have packed it in for the season, we're quite pleased.

Shortly after taking this photo I was out firing up the BBQ. We didn't eat outside, though. I think we're done with that for the year.

And then, last one. Sept 24. We are amazed at how well the various other dahlias have come through the cool damp weather. One morning there was actual ice on some of the plants, but most of them shrugged it off. This particular blossom is essentially done but it likely would have been anyways regardless of the weather. There are some other ones starting up in an act of optimism or something. There are a few nice days ahead, but it's the low overnight temperatures that are going to do them in soon.

There are other photos from today including a bedraggled bee, stay tuned.

Fall Colour 4, last one

I'm not used to seeing Bebo Grove so silent. The storm sewer construction has closed off car access to this part of Fish Creek. I walked down from the top of the hill and strolled around. There was no human noise at all, which is beyond rare. It's a popular place to be on a nice day.

You can just see a bike rider at the top of the path. She came down a few minutes later at full zoom, far faster than I would have done.

 An empty parking lot. So unusual. Love the colour of the tree against the sky. The day had started misty, foggy, and cool. Then it warmed up to be a lovely day.

If you missed any of the series, you might want to look back through the last few days, one, two, and three.

Fall Colour 3

More from the ramble last week. Including a hit of red, and a surprise critter.

I got a bit lucky with this guy. I had the big lens on, but no time to change the zoom.

 And the hit of red for you. I was loving the silver.

Fall Colour 2

Here's three more from the recent ramble, including red!

Some of you may have seen this one on Instagram.

It seems that Blogger may have been eating comments lately. Sorry about that. I love comments. I've tweaked my comments settings and hope that will correct the problem.