Harvest

One sunny afternoon recently we dug up the last of the carrots and beets. We had quite a good crop of carrots, as usual. I guess our soil conditions are right for them, as they seem to do well even though I'm terrible about thinning them. Oliver was fascinated --- at least for a minute --- with the dig-up. The beets did well this year, too, and we got a basketful of them even though I'd picked and eaten from the single row most of the summer. Just goes to show what a few seeds can bring you. I love the lessons like that in the garden. It's one of few places where I can truly see the fruits of my labors.

Unexpected Pleasures

It's supposed to hit 70 today and I don't mind a bit. It goes without saying that 70 at the end of October isn't the norm, but I'll take it. It seems as thought it's been cold and rainy this month and I've heard the word snow in the forecast a couple of times, so a brief reprieve is in order. I know it won't be long before there's snow on the ground, and I have this feeling that this winter is going to be a doozy.

As we were starting to clean out the garden last weekend, I came across this lettuce that I'd let go to seed and stay in the garden all summer. I'm now glad that I did as it continued to provide some really lovely greenery in the garden right up through these recent frosts. The leaves are quite tall, better than knee high, and the green-purple combination is eye-popping. Sometimes it's the unplanned, unforeseen things that make me happiest.

October





October sky

  

I guess I don't mind October. It's usually "seasonably" warm, and we get some sunny days with fall-blue skies that you don't see any other time of year. This October has seemed a bit rainy, though, and the warm, sun-filled days have seemed few and far between. Yesterday we had one and Kevin, Oliver and I got out into the garden to dig up the last of the beets and carrots. It felt wonderful to be out of doors. But, the recent windy rains have stripped much of the color from the trees and the grey skies we've had look like November to me. I'm sorry I can't enjoy you more, October. But, you're just far too close to winter.

Frost on the pumpkin

We got our first frost this week. Not a "hard frost" as they say, but certainly a cooooooooooold morning and some frost on the ground. It's been a lovely October so far, the colors have come to the trees in good measure and I can't help but admire the landscape on a sunny day. I just try hard to enjoy each clear, crisp morning and not think about the grey skies of November.

Funny thing about "frost on the pumpkin" as a phrase. I've often heard it said and it used it myself quite a bit. Turns out it comes from a poem and the phrase in the poem is "When the frost is on the punkin" with pumpkin misspelled. I find it ironic since "punkin" is a misspelling I've had to call people out on in the past.

Here's a bit more from the poem by James Whitcomb Riley:

They's something kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere

When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here—

Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossoms on the trees,

And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees;

But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze

Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days

Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock—

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

Pondering on frost conditions also made me think about the difference between hard frost and light frost. I knew there was a difference, but wasn't sure what. Well, a quick google turns up that a hard frost brings both the air and the soil below freezing. This distinction is important in gardening because some plants can withstand a light frost, but will die off in a hard frost.

Fall Crops

As fall moves along, we spend much less time in the gardens, and it makes me sad. We still get outside but it's usually for hikes or to orchards for fall festivals. Our backyard becomes a lonely place, although it's probably just my imagination that makes it so. In fact, there are still vegetables in the garden and work to be done. A week or so ago I picked all the last squash - butternut this year. I'll make soup with it, most likely. And, we've got another great crop of carrots, also a winter soup staple. Although the brussel sprouts didn't do well this year, there are still some to be picked and eaten and there are beets left as well. I love that the root crops extend the vegetable season, but it all makes me think of winter.