October Garden Color

I noticed a definite October color theme in the garden today. I miss the popping pink cosmos I had last year, but I'm glad to still have these bloomers going this year. This is one of the Tip Top Alaska Nasturtiums. You can see a little of the variegated foliage also.
The trees are started to get their autumn colors too. The garden looks empty since the big bean climber is down. You can barely see the black tubing of the 'covered wagon cloche' on the far end of the garden. Tomorrow, it gets its plastic covering.
The Lemon Boy tomatoes are holding out the best now. The rains some weeks ago have really made the Sungold tomatoes split. The larger tomatoes are not ripening
And Anita's calendula are really adding a bright spot - in both yellow and orange. In Sept., I had trimmed off the old blooms and it seems to have encouraged them to keep going. I've also been scattering around the seedhead and we'll see where all they show up next year.

Smell the Pie?

No, I haven't been able to cut it yet. A little time to age will make it all the better. This is one of the Rouge vif d'Etampes pumpkins. Six have been harvested (some shared around already) and others are still on the vine working on their rougeness. It will be interesting to see the amount of pumpkin that comes from it. It's quite heavy as DH pointed out for every second it took for the photo.

My neighbor gave me seeds and Anita sent me seeds from her Easter drawing. Both are growing but I cannot tell them apart any more. Quite different than my Snackjack harvest last year (I only have 2 of them this year and they are still green). Click on the "pumpkin" label below to see more pumpkin postings. This RvdE has grown quite happily for us this year. I hope it cooks nicely, too, so I can keep growing it.

Covered Wagon Cloche

Remember my tunnel cloche dreams post? Between and during the rain showers this weekend, we gave it a try. I think it has more of a covered wagon look, especially before we added the ridge board. It is 8 feet long by 4 feet wide. We had the wood already and just had to pick up the piping and plastic covering. We also prepared the parts for a 2nd one which would fit in this row too. (note that the bean structure had to come down to make room for this)

In trying to convince the piping it should be more of a U shape than C or O shape, I did stick short pieces of rebar in the ends. Right now, the ends stick through the holes in the wood and into the soil a few inches, but they could be pushed in further as needed. Otherwise, it can be free standing.

Tonight, I leveled the soil, settled the wagon in place and transplanted lettuce, chard and chives. It is supposed to rain tomorrow. Next, I'll attempt the plastic covering. Any great clip ideas to hold the plastic in place? So far, I've seen workable options for a $1 a clip. The cheap ones I found were too small.

Sunny Excursion Part II

Melanie (visit her at Bean Sprouts) commented on how unreal those photos from the last post looked. Melanie, I'm there with you. I look out my home window to see 100 shades of green, shinny from the misty rain. An airport with open air "hallways"? Palm Springs / Indian Wells did feel a little like Mars. Then my colleague suggested we take the Aerial Tramway before our conference started and I saw how much the climate could change in only a 10 minute tram ride. Course, it helps when the tram goes from a 2,643 foot elevation to 8,516 feet! From the desert valley to the cool crisp air scented with mountain trees and shrubs of the San Jacinto Mountains.
Once there, visitors can head off on extensive hiking excursions or, with limited time like us, a short loop trail and a break from the heat below. The Pacific Crest Trail goes though the area here somewhere. This trail runs 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada, through CA, OR and WA. That would have been the long & hard way to get home.
The light colored stone outcroppings (granite I think) were everywhere. They were noticeable because of the consistent color of the stones. The photo captured the blue sky. Too bad I couldn't bring back some of the woodland aroma to go with it.

Sunny Excursion

Yes, I've been away. What I didn't take a photo of, though, was the 650 fellow tax folks I spent most of my time with in Indian Wells, California. I did want to post these sunny photos to contrast with the view out my window here at home and to remember to go back to this place some day.
By the time I tried to make reservations, the huge conference hotel was full so I ended up at the Miramonte across the street. It has around 250 rooms located in a number of buildings across the property. There are walkways and gardens between the buildings. A nice spa too, but no time for that (where were my priorities, I'm sure you are wondering).
It also had many sitting areas throughout. I did get in a little sitting to absorb some warmth prior to the beginning of the conference. It wasn't all tax talk though. There is always a chance to work in vegetables and gardening and it wasn't long before I had shared my blog address!

Late Bloomer

I am very happy to have a nicotiana sylvestris blooming in the garden now. Last year, my neighbor gave me some of her seedlings. I was amazed at the size they grew to be and their evening fragrance. My neighbor thinks they have alien qualities. They grow quite tall and their sticky "skin" means they tend to grab hold when you get too close.

Even though I collected seeds, I didn't get them planted in this year's garden. I was happy to see seedlings appear and then a quickly growing flower stalk. There might be another one that will make it to flowering also. I hope they'll plant themselves again, but next year, I'll make sure I plant some seeds also. The garden and gardener would miss them.

Goodbye Beans

Another year for the lovely runner beans is about over. And the hummingbirds have enjoyed them again, too (see a visit from last year here). The day I took this photo, some weeks ago now, I was using a ladder to reach the highest beans. The HB sat in the tree nearby and screeched at me until I got down. No blossoms are left now and the remaining beans are a bit tough. Not much longer and I'll be cleaning off the structure for the winter. The runner beans and the violet podded pole beans had good harvests. The helda pole beans quickly matured and I didn't seem to get them picked at the right time. Next year, I will planting fewer beans and see if can keep up with them better.

This afternoon in the garden, we watched the chickadees eating sunflower seeds and a hummingbird visiting the blooming flowers. We also saw another hummingbird at the fuchsias on the patio. I don't recall when I stopped seeing them last year.

The Only Cosmos

Remember this post, when I realized the cosmos crop was not going to appear this year? This is the one cosmos that made it from seed to flower, but isn't she a beauty? This photo was taken one evening last week. It is growing among some anise hyssop and delicata squash and adds a nice bright spot in that corner of the garden.

Sunflowers for Rainy Days

This sunflower seems to be the star of dark and gray days. This photo is from a dark day at the end of August. The sun would break through for a moment and make these flowers glow. Today, we didn't have any sun breaks in the misty day, but I could see the blossoms on this plant from the garage window and it called me out to visit.

I thought this was an Italian White Sunflower from seeds I ordered this year. See the Italian White from last year's garden here. Now I'm thinking it may be Valentine, also ordered this year. This one has grown to about 7 feet tall, but unlike the other sunflowers, it has these graceful stalks that hold up the 4-6 inch flowers very nicely. More for cut flowers than seeds, I think, but I will check for seed production in the older flower heads next time I'm out there.

Pumpkin Shine

The pumpkin patch is a bright spot as the days take longer and longer to burn off the misty morning gray. As the end of the green beans is in sight, I'm looking forward to nice pumpkin and spice treats in the months ahead. And the green beans in the freezer will be a treat again about January!