Last Saturday night was a real surprise with temperatures dipping into the teens here in Vineyard Haven. I had been lulled into complacency by the lovely fall weather throughout most of November. One of my greenhouses froze all the geraniums and begonias I was preparing for winter storage. Oops! Fortunately, I had the bulk of them in another house which maintained around 35 degrees.

I confess, I’m obsessed with saving plants from window boxes. I hate their lives to be in vain. Geraniums, begonias and vincas are the favored ones. Most of the annuals I’m willing to let go. Some are notorious for harboring white fly. For years, I tried to save impatiens and pepper plants but usually tossed them in disgust by Christmas. It only took a couple of decades for me to give up on them. After I suggested to you, dear reader, to lift and store the now frosted dahlia tubers I have yet to do it myself. Take my advice, I’m not using it.

I noticed both calendulas and petunias survived the freeze. Who knew they were so hardy? This is one reason I never take apart a garden until everything has died its natural death. I love seeing one last blossom hanging on for dear life.

While tossing some old papers recently, I came across a 1999 Martha’s Minions — the landscapers issue. There was an article by Keith Kerman about the tardiva hydrangea. I know it blooms on new growth and can be cut severely in the fall. He says it can go right to the ground. Wow! I hope I’m brave enough to give it a try. I have some old specimens which could stand some revitalization.

I have a lovely stand of yellow leafed maple trees probably 30 feet tall. I brought them to the property sometime in the 1980s as seeds in bags of leaves. I made it a habit back in the day to collect other peoples leaves left on the side of the road for trash pickup. I needed all the help I could get to improve my poor soil. I noticed the tiny maple seedlings one spring and thinned them a bit. Now they are simply breathtaking in fall color. As I’ve said many times, recognition is everything.

My friend Sharlee and I were lamenting about our attics and the fact we had stored ever single National Geographic from our adult lives. I pondered the reason for this and she said, “Our parents saved them.”

Honestly, I was tickled all week about that remark.

There is much to be said about the fall vegetable garden. I yanked some overgrown kohlrabi to feed to the pigs but thought better of it. Peeled, cut into small cubes, sauteed along with onions, it was delicious — not woody at all. I had planted them in April and figured they were long gone. I think I’ll plant heavily next year. They are much more dependable than cabbage.

Once again, I’ve had a crop failure with Brussels sprouts. The plants are beautiful but the sprouts open right up like a rose rather than form a tight sprout. I’m baffled and thinking perhaps it’s the variety. Anyone know?

I came across some withered, tiny sweet potatoes in the spring. They had made their way under some bags in my pantry. For fun, I tossed them on top of a bed and covered them with hay. They sprouted and were beautiful all summer as an ornamental. Last week, I harvested almost a bushel of fairly good sized tubers. They are purple and delicious when oven-roasted. In the past, I’ve ordered starts from various companies but they rarely do well. They come too late and often get beat up in transit. Now, I’m going to rely on my own and save some for next year. I love that.

I don’t know why Mary Landrieu, Louisiana senator, bothers calling herself a Democrat. She is championing the Keystone Pipeline like crazy. She claims, her exact words, it will provide millions of jobs. We do know she is facing a run-off election in bright red Louisiana. All the economic studies on the issue of the pipeline found that while thousands of temporary jobs will be created for a year or so, after that a mere 35 to 50 full-time workers will be needed.

This dirty Canadian oil will be transported across the heartland and sold on the world market. Why do the Republicans continue saying it will give us energy independence? But the Koch brothers won’t have it running across their Kansas land.

I actually know what I’m talking about when it comes to oil. Rew, Pennsylvania is in the metropolitan area of Bradford, high-grade oil metropolis of the world. We had a well in the backyard. Time and space prevent me rambling on about all my childhood experiences, but a hot shower at my folks’ house smells like the gas station, and leaves a film on the skin. The tap water tastes exactly like oil. There is a colorful sheen on the brooks running down the mountains. And yet the residents hate the EPA for attempting any clean-ups. I was dropped there from Mars!