My zinnas, OSO Easy Paprika rose and a clematis are still blooming here.
Just finished lugging probably 20 or so bags of compost up to my garden bed. Taking a break before I go back out and break them open and spread. They aren't heavy bags but lugging uphill takes some effort!!
77° up to 81° this afternoon. Humidity 56%. Quite sunny. May rain tomorrow.
Saw 3 different butterflies already this morning. Will wonders never cease?
Sulphur was the first one I noted, just as I walked out the back door. Next were a couple of Buckeyes doing the love game. Then a couple of Skippers...pic's still in camera, too.
Good morning. Heading to 75F today and have hazy sun. Supposed to get some rain tonight/tomorrow. Looks like you folks in IA, MO, etc might get some storms with hail. Didn't have as many kids last night as the main road into our subdivision is closed just beyond my street for culvert replacement. And of course I ate too much candy last night and was suffering from a sugar crash by 10pm.
I have found that spot composting - digging a shallow hole and throwing in veg scraps - has helped break up my clay soil. I've really only done it in one bed so far but it has made a difference. I did dig in some soil amendments back in the spring but that's the only "tilling" I do. Planted some bulbs yesterday and will say that the soil under leaf mulch was pretty easy to dig with my hori knife (my fave tool, btw, next to my Felco pruners). All of my garden areas are well-established so I don't do sheet composting. I have to tuck my few veggies in among roses and perennials. DD says her veggies grow the best in new hugel beds. Once the beds get a couple of years old, they need some topping off. She's a few miles from Lake Michigan and has sand on top of clay.
Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we can't eat money. Cree proverb
Name: Ginny G Central Iowa (Zone 5a) Plant Addict!!
@Shadegardener I have looked at hori knives but have never purchased one. Any recommendations? Looks like it would be a great tool! And I too love my Felco pruners!!! I need to condition them though because they've been sticking.
I think I got my knife from A.M. Leonard. It's also nice to get a sheath for it. Don't have to necessarily wear it on your belt but it is nice protection from the blade (which isn't really sharp - just pointy). That and the pruners go into my back pockets automatically when I go out to garden. I don't use a trowel anymore - just the knife. Very versatile.
Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we can't eat money. Cree proverb
Name: Mac Still here (Zone 6a) Ex zones 4b, 8b, 9a, 9b
Susan, our average temperature for November 1 is 40F and 63F. Record low of 21 in 1993 and high of 84 in 1953. It looks like we may be in a tie for that record high today. It's already 80 at 1pm. I'm not complaining since the humidity is relatively low. I actually enjoy cold weather though. I can always wear enough to stay warm, but can't remove enough to stay cool.
Slava Ukraini!
The aboriginal peoples and many cultures throughout the world share a common respect for nature and the universe, and all of the life that it holds. We could learn much from them!
Got my soil dumped. I ended up having to wash my clothes and my shirt is being washed a 2nd time since first time didn't even touch it. I loaded it up with Shout on the front so hopefully that takes care of it.
No mud on the face, just the arms and clothes. No gloves on either. I usually don't garden with them because I find they get in the way.
Garden bed before and after. I loaded it up good there on the left because that's the upper part and it's always a real pain to dig in. Bottom part always great.
Those are Purple Marconi peppers going strong there and roses buried in the pots.
Name: Mac Still here (Zone 6a) Ex zones 4b, 8b, 9a, 9b
The Swiss Chard is still hanging in there, even though something's been nibbling on it.
Morning Glories are about done. We've been harvesting seeds for next year.
Slava Ukraini!
The aboriginal peoples and many cultures throughout the world share a common respect for nature and the universe, and all of the life that it holds. We could learn much from them!
You can see where I hauled it all from in the last pic. I had them all stacked next to the shed down there on the right. I had to walk up that stinking hill. Good thing is it's great exercise.
