The Potager.

It's been slow going in the potager beds without much rain. The top dressing of horse manure and pine shavings dries out quickly. I'm watering nearly every day just to keep the soil below moist. A good hard rain is in order. Still, things are growing. Even the okra has germinated.

Most of the beans are up. I replanted one teepee this morning with asparagus beans. The flat Italian beans did not come up. I blame the squirrels.



Squash.



Cucumbers.



I planted nasturtiums throughout this bed to protect against squash bugs. Along the front edge, I've got dwarf red ones. They should trail over the front once they get going. Along the back with the cucumbers, I have a vine variety. They will grow up the same trellis as the cucumbers to a height of around 6'.



In the three lower beds, 53 tomato plants have survived. One just shriveled up and died. I think I'll have plenty.

Black Krim



Green Zebra



It's 64 degrees and sunny. I've given everything a good deep drink of water from the hose. The high today should reach the 90s again. The chance of rain for Saturday has been removed. We are now under a fire watch as humidity levels will begin to fall overnight.

On the windowsill in the kitchen, the first roots have appeared on my variegated hydrangea cuttings. I'm rooting them in water. The cloner needs to be cleaned soon. None of the camellia cuttings made it. A few salvia have rooted. All three butterfly bush cuttings survived. I'll be taking a look at the rest of the cuttings soon to decide if they just need more time or should be culled.

9:48am - It's 73 degrees. I sowed a few more seeds today, trying to clean out the seed box. Coleus has finally been sowed. They should germinate quickly with the heat. In the garden, a few new things have appeared.

Buds on achillea that were wintersown in 2008/9.



Clearance purchased Tennessee Coneflowers. Planted last fall in the crape myrtle bed.



Wintersown in 2008/9, White Swan has a bloom and many buds.



Clematis Etoile Violette





Off to work in an hour.

Some photos from today.

I didn't get my entire list accomplished. I spent almost 2 hours visiting with neighbors. I took them each a yellow and a white brugmansia. I have six left to plant. Somewhere.

A new columbine has opened. The seeds were labeled "yellow". It's powdery blue. I like it.



Oxalis.



Salvia greggii. Does it realize it's a fall bloomer?



The first Dutch iris.



The view while weeding.



Nandinas. The color is so vivid.



Red clover.



The new birdbath. I need to find smaller stones to add to the bottom.



The dead oak tree is cracking apart.



Looking back.



Bath pink and yellow oxalis.



Baby hosta.



That didn't last long. "Screw you, I'm outta here."



The view from the swing. I did sit a spell.



The view from the hammock, for LeSan.



It's sunny and 73 degrees. I probably increased my water bill by $20 today. The beans, cucumbers, squash and various herbs were planted today. Nasturtiums were sown in the upper potager. Basil was sown in the lower beds. Tomatoes will have to wait. They aren't ready just yet for transplanting and separating. I know a few people who will be receiving the extras in a couple weeks.

Sleep tight.

The garden is officially put to bed for the winter. In less than a month, new seeds will be sown in small containers and placed out in the driveway awaiting the return of warmer weather. Until then, there's not much gardening that will take place. I'll take comfort in the plants living and growing under lights in the basement. It's how I manage through these 4 months. By April, the trees will be renewed and growth will be evident every day.

This morning, the temperature at 5am was 29 degrees. It's currently 52 and sunny. The wind makes it feel cooler.

The fig tree is finally going to sleep. It will be moved in the spring before it awakens.



Melampodium seeds were collected and others scattered throughout the perennial bed.



Nasturtiums will be replanted next year to ward off squash bugs in the potager.



Vinca will return if it reseeds. If not, a single 6-pack will be purchased.



After work today, I've got two things on my list. One, finish hanging the Christmas lights around the two front windows. And two, move the new acquisition I picked up from my sister on Thanksgiving Day. It's huge. I'll post pictures later.

I'm not dead yet.

Two posts in one day. I just wanted to make note of these things in the yard.

Redtwig dogwood.



Nandinas.



Oakleaf hydrangea. This plant is finally shaping up. I hope it really takes off next year. I moved it again this spring.



Cotoneaster in the orchard waiting for spring. It'll be planted on the former snake pit.



Still not ripe.



Gerbera.



White hyacinth bean and moonvine.



Korean lilac and alternanthera.



Crape myrtle.



Burford holly.



Purple queen.



Rudbeckia fulgida and purple lantana.



Nasturtium.