October 9, 2011 - The End of the Season




The end of the gardening season has arrived. In six days, we'll be leaving to spend the winter in Arizona, so the Washington garden has been harvested, with the exception of a few tomatoes and strawberries, and is being cleaned up and "put to bed" for 2011.


The east garden has been cleared of everything but the flowers, parsley, and the cantaloupe plant that has no chance of ripening. It's still trying though, so I'll give it a reprieve and have my son come over to check on it in a couple of weeks....IF we don't get a freeze before then. Garlic was planted in the small fenced area, then covered with grass hay mulch. I was tearing out my hair, trying to find a suitable place to plant it. I wanted it behind the shed, next to the lettuce bed, but the cosmos and sunflowers have completely obliterated that spot. My second choice was against the chain link kennel, at the back of this plot. I tried to dig there, but the neighbor's walnut tree has put out so many roots in that area it was impossible to work up a decent bed. I want to till this east bed next spring, so I really didn't want anything planted in it. I finally gave in, and used this year's onion bed. This end of the garden will have to be left untilled and dug by Granny power.


Yesterday I pruned the raspberries for the second time. They had grown so tall and lush, they were nearly as large as they were before the first pruning. Now the canes are all about 2 1/2-3 feet high, so won't suffer from being whipped around by strong winter winds. Mr. Granny began sawing down the sunflowers today. I'll remove the heads and put them in, or next to, the kennel garden, so the birds can eat the seeds this winter.


The "shed tomatoes" have all been removed, with the exception of an unknown variety volunteer. I'll leave it and hope the fruit gets some blush before it freezes. I'll try to get my son to come over and keep an eye on it. The zinnias will be pulled this week.


The volunteer tomato.



I'm not sure what to do with the cosmos jungle. I've been bringing bouquets into the house, and they are so pretty! Only the ones that flopped over have blossomed, so maybe I can at least get the upright giants cut down.


These "semi-dwarf" zinnias grew nearly 6' high.


I wonder if I can sneak this jalapeno pepper plant into the back of the pickup without Mr. Granny seeing it. It's loaded with baby peppers and blossoms, and looks better than it has all year! It would make a nice plant for the porch in Arizona.


My tomato alley is beginning to look rather sad. They are still giving me ripe tomatoes, so will probably not be removed. I'll just have to deal with the dead plants next spring.


I've started cutting back the Cherokee Purple tomatoes, but they still have a lot of green fruits. I picked everything that had even the faintest blush of color today. I'd like to take some to ripen through the next month or two.


It doesn't look like winter, does it? It's hard to pull up plants and then leave the garden while everything is so green. I'm still hoping for a big display of Heavenly Blue morning glories on the kennel fence before I leave, but so far I only see about a half dozen each day.


The back flower bed doesn't know it's winter, either.

21 comments:

  1. Your entire garden is still stuck in summer and looks beautiful! All of my plants have turned brown and crumbled, before I ripped them out.

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  2. It would be hard for me to leave that pepper behind, too! I keep going out to the garden to *clean-up*, but darn, everything is still producing...I have tons of peppers, tomatoes, zinnias and the herbs have gone crazy...but I have tons of broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and other things that need to get planted out in the garden...oh well, just going to take it slow.

    Stay safe on your drive to Arizona. I love long drives..what route do you take?

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  3. Random, I was going to just rip out everything, but I haven't the heart! It usually freezes around this time, but we're not expecting any temps lower them the 40s for the next week. I'll just leave all the flowers and have to clean them up in the spring.

    ********
    Lynda, I really felt the pain pulling my lovely sweet pepper plants! The other stuff, not so much.

    We go down through Pendleton/Ontario (OR) Boise/Twin Falls (ID) Jackpot/Ely/Las Vegas/Searchlight (NV) then into Needles, CA. From there we go into Lake Havasu City and Parker, AZ....then home. Just under 1200 miles.

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  4. Sounds like you have been working really hard to get the yard in order b4 you leave..its looks great! More spring like than fall like!

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  5. You have such a beautiful yard and garden. It's a pleasure to look at, even if it's just in pictures. It must be very hard to leave it... well maybe Arizona makes it a little easier, but I bet it's still hard to leave it.

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  6. Jody, it is hard to leave before frost kills everything, but if we wait we run into the possibility of treacherous roads. We have traveled the rout in a February blizzard, and I don't want to do that again!

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  7. Aw Granny it made me so sad to see everything topsy turvy.until next year yet,.that grass sure looks good..and those tomatoes are begging to be fried..I'd sneak that plant in while Mr. Granny isn't looking too :o)

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  8. Mrs. Pickles, Mother Nature is still working against me. Just as I'm ready to tear stuff out, she makes it grow!

    ********
    Ginny, Fried tomatoes? Do.Not.Like! They belong right up there with sauerkraut in my book, LOL!

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  9. Granny, you NEED to take that potted pepper plant with you. It looks so healthy and is full of new blooms. Everything that is left in your garden seems to be so full of life. I hope the tomatoes and cantaloupe ripen for your son.

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  10. Rachel, you understand my needs! I mean, we already have to transport a lemon tree, two dogs and a rabbit, why not a pepper plant?

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  11. The flowers are so pretty! I know you'll be sorry to leave it but you'll be excited once you get to AZ. Can't wait to see what you create there!

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  12. Oh,don't you dare leave the pepper plant behind--
    I know that as much as you spoil the Mister, he'll let you take it and not think twice about it.
    :)
    You guys try and relax this week and have a safe drive down.
    I've got Boy Wonder and grandson coming up from AZ this week to get a break from the heat--I'm thinking they'll FREEZE (mid 50's for the highs starting Weds)

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  13. Hide the pepper in Leona. No one will be the wiser. Cookie's got your back.

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  14. I can't believe how lush and green your garden and lawn is! Boy, it must be tough to tear things out and get ready to leave.

    If you put that pepper plant close to the lemon tree...maybe Mr.Granny won't notice!

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  15. It does look lush still but understand your need to skeedaddle... Juast tell thge pepper to be very very quiet in back, maybe no one will notice...

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  16. My "dwarf" Zinnias have done exactly the same thing and they are planted right next to my house! I love seeing the picture of yours. Your garden still looks great. I bet it was hard to cut it down.

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  17. Hi Granny! Just popping in for a quick hello. I have to admit, I get a little sad around this time every year as I watch you clean up the garden. I do love reading about your escapades in Arizona (AND Mexico!), but your garden in WA is just so beautiful and inspirational!

    Wishing you a safe trip and few internet issues upon your arrival! :-)

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  18. You've had quite a growing season! We wish you a pleasurable and safe trip. Can't wait to see what you do in Arizona!

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  19. That birdbath area/back flower garden is absolutely beautiful!

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  20. I'm always sad when you leave for your AZ trip. I never know when you will write again.

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  21. Granny you and Mr. Granny and all the critters have a safe trip to Arizona. Maybe you can send some of your nice winter warmth to us nuts that don't know any better than to live in the frozen North in the winter.

    Please keep blogging so we know how you are doing.

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