Sunday morning on a trip up-Island, I noticed the remains of the previous night’s frost. It still clung to the shady areas of the open fields. Everywhere that the morning sun had hit looked like diamonds. Between that, the intense blue sky and the colorful leaves, it rarely gets better.
Oddly, in some of the gardens that took a hit, there were still blooming geraniums. I couldn’t resist pulling them up, bringing them into the greenhouse, giving a fuss and potting them up to hopefully winter over for another year.
It looked like the New Guinea impatiens may have also been spared the cold. However, the deer had their way with them now that a month has gone by without weekly spraying of repellent.
Another frost fatality was the porcelain vine. I was surprised as it does seem to come back like crazy every spring. I wish I had more appreciation of weeds. They grow no matter what.
I neglected my hoop house all summer. It did not get planted or watered and yet weeds are so tall they reach the top. We’re talking well over my head. It must have reached over 130 degrees in there.
I know some of the books say to leave the pruning of hydrangeas until early spring. I cannot bear looking at them so I sit on a bucket and cut them fairly aggressively. The PGs and Annabelles bloom on new growth so don’t be shy.
The old-fashioned moptops and lace caps bloom on last year’s growth so be careful to leave buds. I cut out obvious dead wood and prune around the bottom to hopefully keep them from flapping all over the lawn next summer.
I’ve been on the hunt to locate my safety glasses. Eye protection is a must for the aforementioned task. I have had a pair for years, ever since David Finklestein was the eye doctor. They are clear glass but get UV protection. I do not operate well in the gardens with regular sunglasses as they distort colors. A large hat does the job against the relentless sun.
Violet’s friend gave me a Tromboncino squash. It can be eaten like a zucchini in its younger stage or is similar in taste and texture to a butternut when mature. Long and skinny, it can be three feet long. This is a cousin to my last year’s favorite, Honey Nut. It’s a tiny Butternut suitable as a single serving.
Thanks to daughter and granddaughter, the winter rye was planted. I love how tidy the vegetable beds look. Next column I’ll get Violet to snap a photo if it germinates by then.
Now that the GOP seems a bit concerned about the upcoming election, they have trotted out some old favorites. Supposedly there is another “caravan” of migrants en route from Honduras. And there is always the old standby that Democrats want to trans our children.
My personal favorite is gearing up the Islamophobia. DJT is especially focused on Michigan senatorial candidate Abdul el-Sayed. It’s especially rich that he has no problem with those who invest in family members’ businesses. Oh! And don’t forget the Qatari luxury jet DJT happily received. What a world!