There is always something going on in the garden, even in late November when the air is chilly. We’ve had several dark and overcast days, lovely rainy days to stay inside to sew or stitch or read. Then we get brilliantly sunny days that set the colors in the trees to light. While most of the leaves are now gone on the deciduous trees, there are still some left to enjoy. The birds are coming around a lot now too, so get ready for a long and picture heavy post.
It has been a couple of weeks since I saw the two young bachelor flocks of five turkeys each had combined into one larger flock. One is missing, as there are only nine now. I couldn’t get them to all stand up straight and pose for me.
They were more interested in chasing each other away from the tidbits I threw to them.
On the feeder, in the last of the warm days, a titmouse shares the bounty with a chickadee.
We have a flock of goldfinches wearing their winter drab that stay here year round.
A pair of cardinals live here too. The female seems to have finally figured out how to hold onto the bottom of the feeder. She had a hard time learning this trick.
Inside, the Thanksgiving cactus began its annual show. The pink flower spreads its petals wide, while the red one always curls like this.
This particular cold day was a fine time to make a quick meal of an Asian Noodle bowl and watch the feeder while I had lunch.
My Sweet Babboo put out the suet feeder when the nights were in the 30sF. It hadn’t been on the pole more than an hour when an Eastern Bluebird found it.
A second one was making good use of it too.
The downy woodpecker found the suet next.
The sunlight was fading this morning as the grey clouds you can see behind the mountain to the west of us were moving fast. It rained the rest of the day.
Later in the week, a nuthatch discovered the suet feeder.
Then the Carolina Wren found it.
Everyone was taking turns stuffing their beaks.
Inside, the Thanksgiving Cactus was revving up even more with lots of pink and red buds, along with two white ones.
Then, this gorgeous apricot color appeared.
A day later, the white one opened up.
I’ve never had this many blooms on this cactus at one time. This plant is 15 years old and this is the best it has ever done. It might be the granular fertilizer I put on it when I brought it inside this year.
Isn’t this pink color stunning?
Around the back side, more pink blooms and more buds for later.
At the hardware store, I saw the bin of paperwhite bulbs, almost empty. They had just a few left, of course on clearance, so I got three.
I had some river stones in the basement that I bought for another project that didn’t pan out. I dug out a clear Depression glass dish and put the stones in it in a shallow layer, just high enough for a nice amount of water to be under the bulbs.
Placing the bulbs next to each other, more stones are added to hold them in place.
The great thing about clear dishes is you can see the water line, so you don’t fill too much. The bottom of the bulbs cannot be in standing water or they will rot.
Hopefully, I’ll have some pretty paperwhite flowers in a few weeks.
In the Carolina room, the geraniums didn’t get the memo that it is not the growing season, LOL! They are getting larger, putting on new leaves, and blooming again.
The amaryllis bulbs are still dormant. I’ll bring them inside in a couple more weeks and see if they will give me another year of blooms.
Meanwhile, I’ll enjoy the Thanksgiving cactus as it puts on a stunning show.
There is still time to put bulbs in the ground for spring flowers. I had all good intentions of adding to the daffodils but just didn’t get to it. Ah well, maybe next year. What is happening in your garden?
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From My Carolina Home 
Oh my, I can see that I am going to have to try to compete with you on those Thanksgiving catus. I have two that haven’t bloomed since I bought them. The challenge is on! I know you will win but surely I can have some success! LOL
My Thanksgiving cacti had lots of blooms this year but have about faded now. I like how yours have different colors all planted together. I am about to repot my MIL’s plant as she hasn’t had blooms in years.
Oh I need to get me a feeder, I just love birds! You have a wonderful assortment!
I never knew that the Thanksgiving cactus had different colored blooms on the same plant! Yours are really beautiful this year! I love seeing your bird photos as always, Carole. The birds in our yard have been busy, too. The last couple days we’ve had some goldfinches on the feeders – I always love seeing them!
Love the photos, especially the birds, we’ve had blue tits, great tits, a nuthatch and bullfinches on ours mainly today
Thank you for the “tour”!! Lovely. I enjoyed it.
What a wonderful view of the changing colours. Not one you would ever tire of.
I have a Thanksgiving cactus which needs repotting and feeding because it has been getting mean with its flowers of late. Must tend to that as I think it has given me the message!!
When I lived in England we used to put fat out for the birds in the Winter but no point here as the birds are well fed all the time and the fat would melt clean away and smell!!
Love seeing your bird visitors. I’m sure they tell each other where to find all the good snacks. Before long there are lots of visitors. :))
Hello Carole, I really enjoyed reading your post and looking at all of the photos. I am delighted that you are getting to enjoy so many beautiful blooms and birds. Have a great day!
Reading your stories is like watching the Hallmark Channel – I can almost hear the music.
Love hearing the bird stories, and your flowers are amazing. I went to Amazon and got some of the fertilizer, so fingers crossed.
The holiday went too fast and now the rush is on for Christmas. Only need 2 small quilts for this year and thanks to your patterns and tutorials I have it covered. Do you know of a store that sells extra hours for my day?
Thanks, Joan
I just bought a suet feeder and cakes…I’d love to help keep the birds that winter here fed. I hope it attracts as many birds as yours does!
Beautiful Autumn colours, Carole!! And the number of different species of birds that visit your garden is astounding. We have only ten more days left of hand watering with a hose – before 10am and after 4pm. After that it’s buckets and watering cans only – again within the restricted hours. I’m busily trying to deep water as much as I can with the hose while I can. There’s no way I’ll be able to keep everything watered with buckets, so I’m deciding which sections of the garden to let go.
What bounty in your garden. The Thanksgiving Cactus we call it in Poland Christmas cactus as it blooms in December. Hope you had a wonder filled Thanksgiving.
Thank you. There are actually three varieties of this plant, the Thanksgiving that blooms in November has spiked leaves. The Christmas cactus that blooms in December has rounded leaves. Then there is the Easter cactus that blooms in April.
Your Thanksgiving cactus is amazing…four different colors of blooms, is that normal?!
Carole, thank you for sharing the birds at your feeder and the last outdoor glimpses of fall. I miss the birds, I cannot lie. We walk in various areas and I really savor the sights and sounds of my feathered friends. Your Thanksgiving cactus is gorgeous! My favorite bloom was that apricot color!
Beautiful photos! I love seeing all the wildlife at your house. Tell me what the fertilizer is. Mine had six blooms last year, and none right now. Doesn’t even look like it’s thinking about it!