October means the end for the annuals in the garden. I usually look around to see what needs saving by cover or cutting, whether leisurely or in a frantic one-day sweep. The forecast last Sunday night was for light frost so it was kind of a frantic sweep. Fortunately, it never materialized. I had a few tomatoes left on the vine of the Early Girl and some pretty red verbena, so I was happy about that because I wasn’t quite ready to quit for the year.
The fall perennial flowers are going strong. Plumbago is spreading through the front garden. I got a couple of starts from a friend some years ago and it’s very happy. The leaves turn a beautiful bronze color and really look nice with the blue flowers.
Marigolds and mums are looking great now that the weather is cooler.
I have pretty good luck with grocery store mums. I like the way they grow in tidy little mounds and they make good cuttings for vases.
I always get cuttings from my geraniums. This one has nice orange flowers and is on its second year. Beautiful colors.
I have a lot of coleus this year, it’s my new fad. I took a bunch of cuttings from them. They root so fast in water it’s ridiculously easy to keep some in the sunroom. The colors will not be as “hot” this winter but they’ll still have a nice red and green pop in the winter when I need it the most.
I had so much success with these great plants that I had a bundle of cuttings to take to my sisters when I visited this last week.
This summer I decided to dismantle my raised bed planter that has served me so well because I wanted a little patio there instead. First I had to get rid of the dirt.
Then get rid of the sides, which were easily pulled out. I figure this bed was at least 10 years old. Time to go.
More dirt removal.
Then I laid paving stones. Charlie helped.
And finally, in August I got enough pavers laid down that I could sit on my little patio. I added a couple of new pots and it looks pretty good!
That’s what’s going on in my garden right now. What’s going on in yours?