Yesterday morning we had frost on roof tops and skim ice on the chickens' waterer . . .
. . . but nothing in the garden was touched as you can see by this bed of Matt's Wild Cherry tomatoes gone wild. This morning (Friday) was a titch warmer with no sign of frost anywhere.
Here's a shot of a bit of loveliness adding color to the last days of the garden. I picked up this Pineapple Sage plant this spring on a whim. It was just a little bit of a thing when I put it in the herb bed. As you can tell, it grew and grew and GREW. Within the last two weeks it's put out these striking red blossoms. So pretty.
I don't have a lot of clean-up done in the garden because so much is still green and growing, but I have emptied five garden beds (only twenty-one more to go). In preparation for winter, yesterday Papa Pea spread some near-dirt-like compost on them. Although I do the bulk of the actual gardening throughout the season, I could never accomplish all I do without his help at crucial times. Several years ago, an acquaintance of ours from England gave us two tea mugs. One was labeled "Head Gardener" and the other "Under Gardener." (I'm assuming that's like Gardening Assistant.) Since then, my dear husband has carried the title of Under Gardener.
With the next three days after today with a snow/rain mix forecast, the end of the garden can't be far off.
Don't tell anyone, but I'm ready. Yep, I'm really ready.
28 comments:
Hope you're enjoying the last of those tomatoes.
Your pineapple sage is gorgeous--so lush and healthy. I got a snippet from a neighbor last year. It certainly didn't get as beautiful as that!!
Oh, I am going to have to add pineapple sage to my herb bed! That is beautiful! Even though we all love that bounty from our gardens, by the end of October we need a break, already! I envy your Under Gardener. I would even take an Over Gardener - or any other gardener. Wanna come down and visit??? (Bring a spade....)
soon it will be time for hanging out in the house in your quilt room.
Mama Pea,
The pineapple sage is beautiful, never heard of it. I'm going to have to check in on getting seeds from my seed resource through the mail.
It's getting closer to winter, soon the garden beds will be put to rest.
Sue - Here's hoping I can get it to winter over!
Susan - I feel guilty (having my Under Gardener) when I think of you doing all the heavy hauling, building, etc., etc. by yourself. (Do you think we could get the spade past airport security?)
Tombstone Livestock - YES! Wa-hoo! Yippee, hallelujah and Happy Days they will be!!!
Sandy - We have a small (very small) nursery that is open just during the gardening season and they have the best, healthiest, reasonably-priced started herbs I've ever seen. This was the first time I'd seen pineapple sage, but just had to try it. Glad I did!
Oh! I forgot about pineapple sage! Had one plant like that years ago, it didn't winter over, and I forgot all about it. I'll have to try that again in the spring. It's just so neat! I bet it would make a yummy hot tea, maybe mixed with a bit of mint. Yummmm.
Correction: "several years ago, your DAUGHTER gave you two tea mugs from England"!!! I remember picking them out in the gift shop outside Bodiam Castle. Just sayin'. ;)
When I read the title of your post on someone's blog list, I thought, "Oh No!" What an amazing thing your garden escaped so well! A little reprieve at least.
Unknown - What a good idea about using it for tea! We brew (plain, ol') sage tea for anyone with a cold, but I'll bet this pineapple sage would be tastier. Thanks!
Leigh - Yes, in our forty years gardening up here in northern Minnesota, this is the latest I've ever had things green, growing and producing in the garden. The temp stayed right around freezing last night, BUT we did have hail, rain and snow . . . so I'm eager to see what things look like out there this morning!
I'm never in a hurry for winter to arrive because I'm so slow with my clean up--But we've not had frost here yet, but it's predicted, it will be a sure sign of fall, and a nudge for me to get moving.
Our garden is pretty much done. I have tomatoes still ripening and cucumbers still growing (tho slower). Plus tons of apple to process. I'm ready for it to be done... Your beds look amazing, thank goodness for the "under gardeners in our lives".
Chicken Mama - Hunh. I could have sworn I remembered the particular incident when P & D gave them to us.
But at my advanced age, I guess there's a good chance I may be losing (even more of) my mental capabilities. Sorry to not have given you the credit for the mugs!
Kim at Golden Pines - I love winter 'cause it affords more time in my quilt room but I know what you mean about cleaning up the garden. I'm not fond of the project either! We had another light frost here last night but I don't think anything still is the garden was zapped.
Ruth Dixon - I'm HOPING for tons of apples to process! Our trees are not anywhere near "laden" this year and they still could use a bit of time for the apples to ripen fully. If I get enough to make our supply of applesauce I'll be pickled tink.
Yes, those under gardeners make a lot possible!
We are having a short spell of Indian Summer, oh maybe 3-4 days of temps in the low-mid 70's, but after that we will be going down a bit a few days of 60's and then to normal temp of 50's.
I'm still peeking in to see what you are up to and I really am surprised that your garden still looks as good as it does! I've woken up to 26-27 degrees a while back and I do know it's returning. Right now I'm doing pre winter chores and hopefully I started early enough to get the tough stuff done ... Hugs to you all
Yvette
Maybe you are enjoying a later season to make up for the slow start you got!
The weather here, south of you by about 10 hours...is bouncing back and forth. Been chilly (high 30's) in the nights, and not supposed to hit the low 70's ever again (until next year). No frost here yet, but garden is finally slowly winding down. I did pick more green tomatoes this morning on my way back from the chickens...and my box o' greens is thriving. I love the look of those Brussels Sprouts. I'm def. growing some next year. Irishman doesn't like them, so I never plant them.
I ALWAYS love your garden photos! That pineapple sage bloom is so pretty. Snow? That'll be nice to have that woodfire burning while working on an inside project!! Quilting? Knitting? Both!!!
Yvette - Good to hear from you! I think it's the time of year when we're all scrambling to get the pre-winter chores done. Funny how you know it's coming but it's always a surprise when it hits! Hope things are going well for you.
Jen - I think you hit that on the head! And we've been very lucky it's happened that way. Otherwise, there would have been much of the garden that wouldn't have made it. Whew!
Akannie - Has your hubby ever had Brussels sprouts from the garden? I think they taste like a whole different animal than store bought ones! Never a bitter taste or any strong flavor at all. Try some next year . . . you just may convert him!
Lisa - Would you believe we had snow nearly all day today? The temp was 36° (I know, it should have been rain) so none of it stayed on the ground. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny so this gal is going to have to hit the garden hard! Time to give up the ghost and pull everything that is out there.
Hard to believe snow is on the way for you already. We are pretty chilly down south too, high's just barely in the 70's, and by the end of the week, we will have night time temps of 30's. My garden is still going, but not sure for how much longer.
Stephanie - There are those folks around here that are saying we're going to have a severe winter. (I never know if that means cold or heavy snow!) It's been hard to believe after our warm, lovely fall. But now that the weather has really started to turn (no more warmth!) and we're seeing frequent snow flurries, they may be right! Hope you get some more time for your garden to do its thing.
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