Wednesday, August 26, 2015

I Guess I'll Need to Get Used to the Cold














 I was rewarded for venturing out this morning in the cold by turtle heads and Rose of Sharon in bloom.



The Anemone looks fresh and full, practically calling the bees who, instead... 


 ...prefer to slowly work on the Ligularia. There's less pushing and shoving franticness in the cool air.


 Some of the last blooms on the rose bush look a little beat up and battered but look!, no Japanese Beetles! They must stay in when it's cold. All the more reason I'm glad I sucked it up, put on some warmer clothes and came outside.


Fall is definitely in the air and coloring the tips of leaves. 



I love watering on cloudy days. I don't wait for the shade to come around. I water indiscriminately, washing off the dust of summer.


 I cleaned off my sloggers and found some appropriate garden socks to replace my usual flip flops. 


Further rewards came in the form of lunch and possibly some work to do when I get in. I think I need to blanch and freeze a bunch of these lovely tomatoes.






Sometimes, the clouds and cool weather make me stop and take a fresh look at nature and what's it's been up to all along, the interesting patterns and habits.






These cool temperatures have really rejuvenated a lot of the annuals that I thought were done for the summer.


So glad I came out to see and be a part of this.

Arctic Blast? Cold Spell? Brrr!




     A picture is worth a thousand words but bear with me and let me just explain a little. It is still August! The temperature on the left is in my house! By default then, the one on the right is outside. Brrr! It is mid morning and normally I'd be out in the garden. Yes, I know, I need a new phone and yes I like cats. Don't get distracted by that. Stay with me :)  It's cloudy out and obviously chilly. My husband loves to point out that this temperature would feel balmy in March but, though that may be how he copes, that just doesn't cut it for me. Last week it was scorching hot! So, I went under the covers and watched the morning news for a little while but I'm itching to get out.


So, tea in hand I'm at the door, just can't do it yet. Here's how I'll coerce myself. 
Hey, check out the temperature difference. It's cold outside but it's practically as cold inside! The vegetable garden needs watering and harvesting. I heard on the news that warmer weather is on its way so the gardens are not giving up on me. I'm not giving up on them. That should do it, along with the jeans I dug out, a big warm hoodie, SOCKS! (haven't warn those for months) and gardening gloves. 
As we say here in Wisconsin, "If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes."
Ok, later!

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Reprieve from the Heat?


A Reprieve from the Heat or Truly the Beginning of Fall?




It makes a big difference, life or death for the plants I may decide to relocate.

There is absolutely nothing like a cool front blasting it's way in after a soaking rain. The whole world feels different.







 I open the windows wide and drink hot coffee out in the garden in the middle of the day. 



I start thinking of new projects again where before, in the heat and humidity, I, like the plants, just tried to wait it out, survive.













Should I move that Red Bud that popped up in front of the front porch and is quickly threatening not only to overwhelm the other plants but also become difficult to extract?





 I love Red Buds, they're not that common up here in Wisconsin. They remind me of trips to the south and spark good memories of car rides with my husband and the kids. If I move it and next week we're back to 90° days it will be difficult to keep it alive and will probably compromise it's health. If I wait and we have another bitterly frigid fall like last year I'm basically in the same boat.














I'm sitting out here as the neighbors overpack their minivan for their son's freshman year in college. They stuff it with things they anticipate he'll need but will never bother with. I know because I did the same thing. It may be mid August but that happening next door feels like Fall to me. I think I'll move the Red Bud.



Other projects are no-brainers. They've just been waiting for the heat to abate. I'll go cut down some pesky buck thorns to ensure the Red Bud gets sun light in its new home. I can also do some dead heading in hopes of second blooms on the Monarda and yarrow. 





Then maybe I'll tackle the weeds in the long neglected side garden. This list is getting rather ambitious. I'd better finish my coffee and get going. I'm so enjoying this cool weather, be it a reprieve or actual change of season.











 It's feeling like Fall!