It’s pretty much all over for the Edibles, though there are still a couple of rows of green beans. The butterflies and goldfinches are still hovering around the zinnias, too. Finally the Mums are in Full bloom. Though today it’s supposed to be 85 and sunny, we probably won’t see the 80s again until next year. Gloomy rainy days are on the way, but even then the trees try to shine out with their yellows and reds…

We’ve continued to pull in veggies: the broccoli never recovered from the onslaught of whatever-those-worms-were, though they made a brave stand; The limas, too, just lollygagged along until there’s no more time left. The last two stands of green beans are going okay, so we’re putting off picking the as long as we can.

We usually travel in September and October, so bring it all in right after Labor Day. In this strange year, we’ve stretched the season out and it’s been a Work of Wonder and Joy…

I made a video… With so many pictures of All of the gardens, I had to focus on just the two: The Edible and the Peace/Bird Garden… The music is one of my all-time faves from the Ozark Mt. Daredevils…

Enjoy!

Keep on Growing…

I’ve been to an appointment with the eye doctor this morning. By the time I came out of the office the temperatures had dropped and there is a cold rain. Here at the Acres, we’ve got the fire burning and it’s cozy as a bug.

Busy all last week when it was sunshiney and warm, we finished putting the rock into the garden annex, giving it a more “finished” look. We still need soil, but that may wait until Spring.

I potted up the cilantro… I had thrown some seeds into the washtub planter about a month ago and there are eight nice plants. Basil, oregano, and thyme are all out on the porch now, too.

The mums are Finally opening…

We’re planning a day-trip up North to see some Fall colours.  Covid cases are surging througout our state and I still see too many people not-wearing masks, so we’ll be taking a picnic lunch.  I’m pretty impressed at how the safety precautions we have to take actually encourage a person to be more creative.  There’s always a Bright Side, if you look… 

Keep on Growing…

Back on June 18, I wrote this in my Garden Journal:

This is milkweed, Asclepias spp., the Only plant that monarch butterfly larvae can eat.  It’s new this year, bought at the Zoo plant sale, and it might take a while to do its magnet thing.

Jo Mayne Casey, Garden Journal 6/18/2020

The Monarch butterflies had no problem finding it. For the last couple of weeks I have spotted monarchs munching on the zinnias and recently observed a couple of them feeding at the hummingbird feeder! When I checked the milkweek — Lo and Behold! monarch caterpillars have taken residence. So. Cool.

Slowly, but surely, the Edible Garden is being harvested.

The Birds are still wearing out the feeders, the migrants flocking in for baths, drinks, and grub. I’m watching the buds of the mums, which seem to be taking Forever to bloom…

Gardening involves quite a bit of waiting, but gives you plenty to do in the meantime. We’ve got the firewood brought up to the front porch and the outdoor furniture put in the cellar. The Fall Decorations are out. We’re eating well…

But I’m getting impatient, ready for the Proof of Autumn — mums in bloom..

Almost There…

Keep on Growing…

I have spent hours watching the birds flock to the Bird/Peace garden.  Especially since they started migrating south, the feeders have been packed with a variety of species just passing by, joining our resident cardinals, sparrows, wrens, titmice, chickadees, woodpeckers.  The hummingbird feeder is being drained at record-pace.

I don’t think much about taking pictures when I’m bird-watching, but today I wanted to snap some shots for blogging and grabbed my Nikon with the long lens for the purpose.  Lo and Behold! there were pictures on the camera from Spring when the rose-breasted grosbeaks migrated through.

rose-breasted grosbeak

rose-breasted grosbeak

Photos below were taken this morning…

resident cardinal couple

resident cardinal couple

We finished the melon-and-pumpkin-bed Addition… I have to brag that this cost us $0, built with leftovers from past gardens…  It’s still a work-in-progress, of course, but I am very happy with it.

Last week…

This week…

It’s definitely fall here with high temps in the mid-sixties and plenty of sunshine.  Out in the Edible Garden, there’s a mess of green beans, about a dozen green tomatoes, and nearly as many bell peppers to bring in so I can take down the plants.  The broccoli and the late-sown beans are okay to stay for a while longer.

Keep on Growing…

We’re in a bit of a holding pattern here at the gardens, just waiting for the plants to Finish Up.  There are almost a dozen peppers still maturing and it’s about time!  The tomatoes look spent, but there are a good ten fruits left to ripen.  The green beans have flowered, should be ready to pick in a week or so.  I think we Saved the broccoli – no more worms — but they need to do a little catch-up growing.  We cut down the cucumbers who had served us so well this summer.

I finally trimmed the rudbeckia in the Peace/Bird Garden, where the fall mums are almost ready to pop their buds.  The urn that was in the middle was moved to the porch…

Before

Have you met Larry Garcia?  I bought him at a rummage sale for $3.  To me, he looks like a mashup of Larry Caplan, our old County Ag agent who taught my Master Gardening class, and Jerry Garcia, you know, Grateful Dead Guy?  He gets moved around on a regular basis, not an easy task since he is stone(d).  Heavy, man..

I’m ready for fall weather and decorations, just waiting for the official First Day to drag out my Autumn stuff.  I can feel the change in the air already, though, as the sun dips and the air nips…

Keep on Growing…

While out walking this morning, I tripped and fell, skinning both knees and my right hand…  I was being so careful, too, because the sidewalk in that area has numerous areas where tree roots have pushed it up.  >sigh<  Yes, yes, I applied ice and am now sitting here with my feet propped up.  So I’m not feeling very wordy today, but I’ve got some nice pictures for you…

The Edible Garden is just lovely…

Cabbage worms attacked the broccoli, so we dusted them with Seven; looks like confectioners sugar on the lacy leaves…

The morning glories finally bloomed!

Out in the Bird/Peace garden,, the coneflower and rudbeckia still attract the goldfinches, so I’m not cutting them back until the birds have had their fill.

Keep on Growing…