What are you the things you would like to get done before fall/winter. I would like to finish separating the irises, get a planter box built and a few more irises moved and finished up.

Heal from my broken shoulder so I can feel like deadheadING my sad platycodon, Speedwell, and Campanula. Just want to get through the next few weeks .

What don't I want to get done...

I have to start thinking about "Winter protection" for the Iris beds. Since they will be full of newly planted
rhizomes. So I have to probably buy pine straw and evergreen boughs to protect the beds over the Winter,
but I certainly have time for all of that .......

Short term goal is to get the last 30 or so rhizomes planted. Getting some digging help tomorrow!

I must have missed something (or a lot), Cleta, I did not know you had broken your shoulder. I am sorry for your woes and hope you mend quickly.

I will have masses of leaves to contend with once they start to fall. I hope I can keep up with them. I am going to make one more iris bed to hold a few gotta haves.

cbelt1 said:Heal from my broken shoulder so I can feel like deadheadING my sad platycodon, Speedwell, and Campanula. Just want to get through the next few weeks .

cbelt1, I was in a similar spot march of last year when I broke some ribs and I wanted/needed to work in the garden. I hope it heals quickly cause its not fun.

grannysgarden, have rake will travel for irises (just kidding).

Sorry about your shoulder & hope you are more comfortable soon.

What do I hope to get done before winter? The most important is to turn over more builder's "soil" and prep for planting more of the potted irises. Potted ones have not done well here when trying to overwinter them. The next is to visit the old house where I have permission to dig more irises to move here, but this must be done soon as the contract says "by July 31."

Build more beds and plant iris.

Same thing as last year, plant iris, dig more beds. Would like to get the Japanese iris beds enlarged. I am so behind in yard projects!

Plant, plant, plant...
So far, I've potted up slightly over 100 rhizomes in the last few weeks.. I've still got maybe 15 to go, and then Superstition will arrive... I still need to dig and send a few orders...
Fall and winter are busy times here... Fall is the best planting time here when the soil is still warm, but the days are shorter and nights cooler... Then hopefully get watered in when the (oh lord I hope) rainy season starts. If I've bought bulbs, they go in.. (that reminds me... I need to dig up some daffodils and re-plant under the persimmon). I start pruning the roses and the orchard at the end of December.. Divide perennials and start cuttings in Dec, January, and February.. Toss out some seed at that time... In some ways I envy you folks who have down time in the garden in winter... I'd love to be able to get my house in order and take on some project that weren't garden related.

I have a LOT that NEEDS done , and even more that I WANT to do , so, I'll stay busy, I guess

Weed,till,weed,clean leaves,weed, plant,weed,label,weed,fall fertilize,till,weed.......does it ever end???

Dig more beds, lather, rinse, repeat....

Oh boy, I have quite a list. I will probably get a quarter of it done. I'm lazy.

New beds, more planting, another raised bed, trellis up, weeding is never done but I try, more...

Fall is a busy time everywhere I'm guessing, but what season isn't. On top of getting beds cleaned out for winter, and putting mulch down on things other then irises, I have the apples to pick and do something with, either can, freeze or take to the food pantry. I have one tree ready to pick now (yellow transparent), but I can barely keep the lawn mowed. Lawn care is supposed to be minimal in July, it's supposed to get dry and the grass stops growing, but no such luck. I have horse pastures that need mowing too, and I'm thinking about doing a major re-model on the house this winter, or next spring. I haven't quite decided yet. Then with any luck, there are sweet potatoes to dig and Irish potatoes to dig, and winter squash to pick, and bake with butter and brown sugar. Tomatoes to can and freeze and eat. That first fat juicy BLT with tomato juice running down your arm. Top it off with 7 baby ducks that hatched today, and I can't even take pictures. I went to Best Buy and they didn't have the right memory card. Now I have to go look somewhere else. Then will come the leaves. They look so nice when they turn color, but then they have to fall and blow all over the place. But when it's all said and done, fall is just one sticky gooey caramel apple! a season I love.

Wow Tom, you have a lot on your plate coming up. My list is not quite as bad,

The one thing I got excited about there were the baby ducks! And the tomatoes. Okay, two things. And going to Best Buy. Alright already! Three things!!!

Yup, 7 little spotted Ancona ducks. And I can't take a picture. I have to go scouting around today to see if I can find a memory card that fits my camera. If not, I may have to get a new camera.