Leaves

The leaves have almost all fallen. It seems to me that there were more leaves this year. The shade was deeper this summer and the layer of leaves deeper this fall.

The green grass lies covered in a blanket of brown. Moving quietly across the yard takes all the training my daddy gave me as a child.

I remember our walks in the woods vividly. He taught me the names of trees and plants. He taught me to love the woods and the creatures that inhabit them.

He taught me how to walk quietly in new fallen leaves. (I frustrated him no end, however, for it was much more fun to kick them and hear the  crunching, swishing sounds as they flew skyward.)

I did learn though; and could slip up on rabbits, squirrels and other creatures with ease by the time I was nine.

Hmmm. When I was nine. Oh, what a long time ago that was! I try not to think about it very often.

Daddy was my age when he was teaching me woodland stealth. Maybe I could teach my great-grandchildren. Of course, they may think I am crazy if I show them how to walk “Indian style” through the woods. In the days of computers and video games, walking silently through new fallen leaves is not very exciting .

It was fun half a century ago though, walking in the woods with Daddy. That’s what really matters to me.

Strange, isn’t it? The small everyday events and actions done by a parent can, in the future, become so strong a memory in the child turned adult.

Blessed Be.

Somber October

October is generally a happy time at Shady Hollow. Most years we spend time getting ready for the winter months; planting trees and shrubs, bringing in plants, digging bulbs to store for next spring.

My husband’s birthday is in late October and early in the month my thoughts were on planning a birthday party for him. The plans haven’t been made and nothing mentioned above has been done.

The month started out with a not-so-good doctor visit in which it was discovered that my husband’s cardiac health has deteriorated. OK, we can deal with that.

That same day one of our cats became ill and died a few days later. Our vet did all he could to save her, but it was not to be. Within a week our oldest cat also fell ill and we learned she has intestinal cancer and is on borrowed time.

So I haven’t even visited this site, haven’t done the usual autumn chores, haven’t done much of anything.

Maybe November will be better.

Fall Is In The Air

The first tinges of red, yellow, and gold are touching the trees, bushes and undergrowth at Shady Hollow. The tulip poplars have been dropping leaves for awhile now. I’ve already removed them from the deck once and its ready for another cleaning.

Acorns and hickory nuts are falling. The sound of a big hickory nut landing on the metal roof of the garden shed is common at this time of year. Unfortunately those same nuts fall on our cars, mimicking hail damage.

Its time for fall chores. Bushes need to be pruned, gardens cleared of vegetable plants no longer producing, leaves to be turned into compose piles for next spring. These days, the mere thought makes my back hurt in anticipation.

My back will have to get used to it, however. The fall season lets me have one last period of garden activity before settling in to wait out the winter indoors (as much as possible) for I don’t do “cold” very well.

I have several hydrangea to replant, along the front of the cottage, I think. Other newly rooted shrubs will be placed in a south facing area to winter in their pots. There are bulbs to dig and place in the basement to overwinter.

If I get time, I plan to move some of the daylilies to a better location.

If I get time.

That statement seems to encompass my entire existence this year. Time seems to be traveling at warp speed. Days are flying by much too quickly. Maybe the slower pace of winter will be a good thing for me this year.

We’ll see.

Emerging Butterfly

A few weeks ago we noticed a tiger swallowtail butterfly that had just emerged from its cocoon and was drying its wings.

The years I’ve spent planting flowers and shrubs that are attractive to butterflies have paid off. Many various butterflies have stopped by to sample the nectar this summer. This one, however, in his or her stage of hatching and drying, was still long enough to have its picture taken.

Where Did the Time Go?

I haven’t posted to this blog in ages it seems. I wanted too. Really I did. Time just kept on slipping by and “I’ll do it tomorrow” turned from days into weeks.

Now, suddenly, it’s Labor Day Weekend. I have a few days off work and a list that’s as long as I am tall that I want to get accomplished. Can I do it? Not totally, I’m sure. I think I can make a dint in it though.

First this morning I have a vet visit with our cat, Tigger. After that I’ll be rolling up my sleeves and tackling some of my list items.

How are you spending the Labor Day Weekend? A trip to the beach or mountains may be in your plans,or just getting caught up on rest since we are all working harder these days.

Maybe, like me, you have a list of chores to get done around the house. I’d love to hear what you’re doing. It would make for great reading when I take a break.

Right now, however, I have to gather up a 16 pound cat and haul him off to the vet. Wish me luck!

Garden Update: No Blight (So Far)

I absolutely LOVE home-grown tomatoes.

After 19 years of gardening at Shady Hollow and losing my tomato crop to blight every year, I finally got a little smarter and decided to use a fungicide this year.

I began spraying as soon as the plants were in the ground. So far it seems to be working. The plants have grown well beyond their cages and are producing beautiful tomatoes.

These are the first two picked:

This is the view of the plants from the deck:

I did go for a period without spraying and am keeping my fingers crossed that no blight spores were able to take hold during that time. Even if it does rear its ugly head again, we have already enjoyed more tomatoes than we ever have from our little garden. If blight returns, I’ll be more diligent in my spraying next year.

Another garden success this year is okra. I had tried several times to grow okra, only to fail miserably. Most of the time it didn’t even sprout. If it did manage to start growing it soon just sat there and did nothing but look miserable.

This year I must have done everything right for the okra; location, planting time, fertilizer, water, everything. The plants have gone wild and we are enjoying fried okra and fresh tomatoes. Yummy!

The final veggie success has been black-eyed peas. My mother used to grow black-eyed peas and cook them fresh from the garden. My hubby had never eaten them other than in dried form and was amazed at the difference in flavor when cooked fresh. He isn’t accusing me of wasting garden space on them anymore.

Veggie failures? Yes, and not what you would expect. My summer squash failed as did the cucumbers. Two plants that have never given me problems before. I have no idea what happened. But this year, no squash or cucumbers while last year was a bumper crop of both.

As we head toward the fall season my thoughts are on greens. I have turnip, mustard, and collard seed that will soon be replacing the peas, squash and cucumber. I’ve never tried growing greens at Shady Hollow. This could be interesting.

I’ll keep you posted.

Be Blessed.

The Vines Are Blooming! Finally!!

This spring I decided that instead of potting up cannas for the deck I would plant vines. I planted moonflowers, a hybrid morning glory, black-eyed Susan vine, and cardinal creeper. I gathered sticks for them to climb on and waited.

Soon they were up and growing:

They grew and grew, but no flowers.

Now, at long last, they are blooming.

I don’t have a picture of the cardinal creeper yet. It has only had a few blooms and I didn’t get a picture. So, there will be more to come.