The above is the "before." Here's the "after:"
Nice and tidy and ready for the winter. Out of all the garden chores I listed on my to-do list, I did the following (struck through)
- Clip back purple irises for the winter.
- Finish weeding and mulching butterfly garden.
- Move baby trees to front porch.
- Move potted irises to front porch.
- Finish potting iris bulbs.
- Move gardening supplies from outside to the garage.
- Move irises in lawn to bird feeder bed.
- Put tomato cages away.
- Till and mulch vegetable garden.
- Put last hose in the garage.
- Plant 2 butterfly bushes.
- Plant daylilies in driveway bed.
- Dig up bed on east side of house.
- Move hostas next to porch.
- Turn compost heap.
Obviously there's still much to do, but this is all I got done before it started raining on me.
It was hard work, but also very fun and rewarding. At times, it was also quite funny; at least, I amused myself as I managed to get dirt and clay down my shirt, into my pants, and thus, into my underwear. I will stop there, as you can probably guess where it lodged. It happened when I was planting the butterfly bushes. I use a pick axe (LOVE the pick axe!) to dig the holes, and of course, the dirt/clay mix is still damp from the rains we've had. Which means that it sticks to the blade of the pick axe. Until you raise the pick axe over your head for the next swing. THEN, and only then, does the dirt come off. Down your neck, etc., etc. Took the clothes off IN the shower, rinsed well, no harm done. Still, I got a good chuckle out of it!
Another favorite tool from yesterday was the bread knife my mother bought us for $1 at the flea market when she and Papa George just visited. It cut through the lavender and the irises like butter. I first learned of this trick from the guy (Scott?) who owns Clairmont Farms outside Solvang, CA. The knife was the perfect tool for cutting back the irises, since I could grab the fronds in one hand and slice through with the knife. Clipping with shears would have taken twice the time. And trimming back the lavender worked well with the knife, too. And, as a bonus, there were a few flowers left over, just enough for a mini bouquet:
All in all it was a very satisfying garden work day. If the rain had only held off, I could have made headway into the vegetable garden , but hopefully, there will be some mild, sunny weather coming up that coincides with a day "off."
How are YOU tending your garden this Fall?
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