I found some nice surprises in my yard this weekend. The first, of course, was the gorgeous weather. I would call this "Indian summer" except we haven't had a real frost here yet. It feels like summer returning, though, after a week or so of rain and clouds.

The second surprise was buds on the cosmos flowers. I got them planted really late this year, and I had begun to expect them to freeze before they bloomed. If the weather will hold just a little longer, I still might have a few flowers!

The third surprise was blooms on one of the laurel bushes. They were so close to death from my neglect last spring that they didn't bloom then. I've watered them by hand throughout the summer, and of course they were soaked by the rain. Looks like they're going to make it now!

I think Mother Nature has a reputation for being unforgiving, but sometimes she does give us second chances.