My garden has been my refuge these past few months, weeks and days. We are now past one election hurdle; I suspect there are many more to come.
November is the month for putting the garden to bed, as I wish we could with all the politics swirling around right now. I have been pruning, cutting back perennials, pulling out spent fall annuals, and planting native wildflowers for spring. We’ve had our first winter rain, although slight. There is a much larger storm system on its way later this week and we had our first frost last night. I’m getting the garden ready for a lengthy well deserved rest.
That’s not true in the vegetable garden though. I will hopefully get my snap pea seeds before the rain, the bed is ready for the 30 inch tendrils of a shorter variety. Now is the time for planting. Lettuce, arugula, carrots, sprouting broccoli, chard, and cabbage are all getting a good start. They love the cooler weather.
Ready for peas
This year I will cover the new seeds with bird netting. The sparrows and junkos got most of them last yer.
Sprouting Broccoli and Chard
Young Cabbage Plants under shade cloth to protect from cabbage worms
Lettuce, Arugula, radishes, and Carrots covered in bird netting
Here are a few pictures of the flower beds, facing the back of the house from left to right. The blue kiddie pool is for the dogs, they like to cool off in the water after a strenuous game of ball or frisbee or tag.
There is always something to do even if it is only filling the bird feeders. For that I am thankful.
Because of the heat lamps we have been able to hold a few appropriately distanced dinner parties outside, just off the kitchen deck. Once the rains start it will be more difficult. We have a rain flap over part of the deck but it is only large enough for four to be safely distant from each other, and it won’t work if there is any wind.
Ready for dinner
In the pollinator garden most of the plants have been sheared back. Amazingly that one rain shower (it was only .25 inch) has resulted in seeds sprouting.
And here, just for recording purposes, is our sad front yard. It’s mostly sand and weeds, our leach field for the septic system, and a playground for the dogs. I have purchased some seeds to improve the soil and will be working on it this week before the rain on Thursday. So here is the sad ‘before’:
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- Front Yard ‘Before’
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- Front Yard ‘Before’
Stay safe everyone, stay well, be kind to each other. I think we all need some tenderness right now.
I love your comments and suggestions. Thank you so much for visiting with me in my garden in Fort Bragg, California on the coast.
I love those heat lamps! They work so well. You have a great patio. The garden looks great, considering it’s November!
Considering that yes, and the rain has started so it is a relief to be able to stop watering. Hopefully our aquifer will fill in the next few weeks. Neighbors have been complaining that they have muddy drinking water. I think our well is pretty deep but it is always a worry.
I love looking at your garden photos. Mine is soggy at the moment, from 2 days of non-stop rain. The good thing is that it’s actually kinda warm out there, 60s (that’s warm enough for us) and some of my basils are still green!
Are you ready to cohost tomorrow’s Fiesta Friday? Let me know. I’m hoping to see lots of Thanksgiving recipes!
Thank you Angie. And I am happy to cohost almost anytime.
Yes, it is the tail end of gardening this season… Your area looks great and I hope you’ve collected a lot of seeds!
Not as many as I would have liked. I did save some bean seeds and I let the flowers selectively seed themselves. But, I do need to be better as seed saving. I let a select number of veggies flower for the pollinators but usually pull them out after that time.
As always, I enjoyed your garden post. I must say I’m envious of you long growing season. We’re all done here except for raking the last of the fall leaves.
There is some advantage in having a long rest though. Thank you Ron.