My parents and I took Ali to Cheekwood Botanical Garden on a lovely Sunday afternoon (while Jason was on his way home from an 11-day tour). It was absolutely gorgeous in the park. Combine that with my beautiful daughter and I couldn’t stop taking photos! Ali’s grandparents couldn’t stop breaking the rules and picking flowers for her. Here are a few of my favorites photos:
1 Comment | 
Art, Art: gardening, Art: God's creation, Family, Family: Precious/Ali | Tagged: autumn, beauty, botanical, fall, flowers, garden | 
Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
I love this time of year in Nashville. Summer is hands-down my favorite but the start of fall with lower humidity and cooler nights is usually a welcome change. Most days it’s sunny with highs in the 70s and temps dipping down into the 40s overnight. I decided to snap a few pictures of some beauty in our garden before the overnight frosts start. Check out how tall our banana tree got this year! The leaves don’t survive the winter so it starts out as a stump each spring.
It’s been warm enough that some plants are flowering a second time this year, including our pink roses, orange zinnias and yellow canna lilies.
I love the furry fronds on the end of our pampas grass.
Our black bamboo has really filled in this year. If you’re not familiar with growing bamboo, the saying is “first year sleep, second year creep, third year leap.” This has definitely been a leap year for it.
Jason is considering moving this agave to a pot through the winter. Juuuust to be sure it doesn’t die if we have several cold days in a row.
What is your favorite season?
1 Comment | Art, Art: gardening, Art: God's creation | Tagged: autumn, fall, garden, home, landscaping | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
1 Comment | Art, Art: God's creation, Art: mid-century design, Art: Phone Photo Friday | Tagged: cell phone photography, fall, home, mid-century modern, our house, Phone Photo Friday, ranch | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
1 Comment | Art, Art: gardening, Art: God's creation, Art: Phone Photo Friday | Tagged: autumn, cell phone photography, fall, flowers, orange, Phone Photo Friday, zinnias | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
New doormat for the fall.
Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: Phone Photo Friday | Tagged: door mat, doormat, fall | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: gardening, Art: God's creation, Art: Phone Photo Friday | Tagged: cell phone photography, fall, garden, patio, Phone Photo Friday | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
I’ll write a whole post about the wonderful time I had in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg/Smoky Mountains last weekend with Jason and the other guys he’s touring with and their families. But…you’ll have to wait until next week. Sorry! Here’s a preview:
Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: God's creation, Family, Family: Jason | Tagged: fall, pigeon forge, smoky mountains | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
“Are those ‘fall’ leaves or just dead from the heat leaves?” my friend Brienne asked. True, it was in the 90′s when I took this photo yesterday ont he first day of fall. But cold weather will be here soon enough and I, for one, am enjoying this little burst of record heat.
Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: Phone Photo Friday | Tagged: cell phone photography, fall, leaves, Phone Photo Friday | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Despite the calendar saying it’s the first day of Autumn, it’s still in the 90s for a few more days here in Nashville. (I’m not complaining; I love the heat!) However, fall is here and scarf weather is on it’s way! My patient and gracious mother taught me how to knit on Sunday afternoon. She had to fix, unknit and reknit for me many times but I’m happy to report that after 4 days, I’m getting it!
My scarf is now 4″ long! Only 43″ more to go! At this pace, I should be done around the beginning of November. Just in time!
1 Comment | Art, Art: crafts | Tagged: fall, knitting, scarf | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
While we were building mini greenhouses on Saturday, I couldn’t resist taking photos of some of our flowers and plants in their fall splendor. The succulent above seems to change colors for every season. I love the rusty orange-brown for October!
Lavender is still going strong. I love the frosty blue-green leaves against the purple buds. The smell makes me gag, though. 
A couple of red azalea flowers still hanging on.
Monarch butterfly caterpillars enjoying our parsley.
I decided to pick the last of the basil and attempt to preserve it for cooking through the winter. Also, before chopping down the last of the zinnia bushes, I cut a few flowers to make two final vases.
In a random conversation with a stranger, I learned of a technique for saving and storing fresh basil that I decided to try. I cut up the leaves into small strips with cooking shears and mixed them in a bowl with extra virgin olive oil. Then I spooned the mixture into an ice cube tray and drizzled with more EVOO. Once they’re solid, I put the cubes into a ziplock bag. I’m hoping these basil-cubes will work! I LOVE fresh basil in my pasta.
Black bamboo: you are stunning. I love you.
1 Comment | Art, Art: God's creation | Tagged: black bamboo, caterpiller, fall, flowers, herb garden, preserving basil, zinnia | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Graphic designer at a magazine publishing company, MCM interior design enthusiast, wife of an amazing guitarist, foster mama and follower of Jesus Christ.
I update my blog daily M-F. Thanks for stopping by!
I'd love to hear from you. My email is m*ahlbrandt*@gmail*.com (remove *s).
