I had bought several new mums this year and they are beautiful ones, I might add. They all needed to be mulched with straw for the Winter. I also mulched our strawberry bed, the fig tree and miniature roses. My newest lilac bush and white rose were blooming, even at this late date, so I decided I'd better mulch them as well. I also set out some of my Fall decorations. Everything looks so . . . well . . . Fallish!!! I was actually starting to get into the brisk Fall weather this week-end. It takes me awhile to make the transition from Summer to Fall but at last I could feel that silly, giddy joy. I began to see all the beauty and joy of Autumn.
While I was out in the herb garden I kept glancing over at the beautiful pineapple sage in all its glory. The blooms on that sage are just absolutely gorgeous and light up the garden and when you brush by them you get that sensational pineapple scent that just sends one into orbit!!! I decided to cut a few branches and went into the house and made some hot pineapple sage tea with a little honey. It was everything you would imagine . . . the smell, the taste, mmmmm!
While I was out I cut some regular sage, the rest of the basil and cut back the rosemary, and brought them all in the house to dry. I also cut the coxcomb. Those big burgundy heads are so beautiful placed in a Christmas Tree for decoration, in potpourri or for dried arrangements in the Winter. They add color and memory of Summers' past. This particular coxcomb was given to me by an old horse gentleman who grew coxcomb that would defy the imagination. John has passed on but his seed is still producing lovely blooms for many to share.