Well .. Thunder Bay and surrounding area got it's first killing frost overnite last night .. today .. we start the arduous and sad task of picking out the REALLY dead plants.
The worst are the Canna Lillies .. we stood by them and could almost see the leaves blackening. The Impatiens is done for as well as the Begonias. Some of the Petunias are trying to wage an embattled last reach for the warmth of the sun .. them I shall NOT part with .
A black bear (who we thought had been dispatched long ago) arrived in the early morning hours and pulled down 2 PLASTIC feeders .. happily they spilled their contents and he didn't bite the feeder in half ..
There ya have it
~*M*~
This message was edited Sep 15, 2007 11:06 AM
The Party is OVER for 2007 :-(
Yup, it's getting to that time of year. Where did the summer go? Seems like just last week I was crawling on my knees in the lawn looking for those first crocus buds.
I am gradually bringing everybody back inside, which means a lot of rearranging going on. And a few harsh words and lectures to a few cats.....funny how they forget the rules.
Yesterday I started getting the greenhouse ready for winter. I've got to clean the glass panes and re-stick the bubblewrap insulation onto them, and make sure the heater and ventilators are in working order. I'm keeping a close watch on the temperature forecasts, in case I need to move potted fuchsias and cyclamen indoors in a hurry. Although I'm a long way south of Thunder Bay, my garden is in a valley bottom where cold air collects, so even if the local forecast is for a low of 3C, I could get frost!
Just popped in here to take a break from processing my mountain of tomatoes......we stripped our maters on the 13th and early on the 14 killing frost struck here too. :(
Sorry to read that you had the same visit as well Marilynne!
This message was edited Sep 15, 2007 4:46 PM
Ain't it great to be a Northerner :-)
Luckily our Tomats were picked and processed last week .. we still have turnip and Kolrabi and some carrots and cabbage in the veggie garden .. but .. they'll be fine for a bit .. but the tatters are gonna be coming out.
Today the flower beds look even worse .. to me .. this time of year is a 50/50 split of highs and lows .. some of the underbrush and the Pin Cherry bushes are making their colourful statements .. they are overlooked in summer .. but NEVER in the fall .. brilliant scarlet and gorgeous .. alas .. they only treat us for about 4 days .. the first good wind and the leaves are gone ..
Our Sugar Maples and Mountain Ash trees are preparing to bring on their last 'Blaze of Glory' ..
I wish everyone the best of luck with their harvesting and preps for over wintering .. I would say Merry Xmas .. but I don't want someone to throw a rotten squash at me LoL
~*M*~
We've managed to get past some cool nights with only a touch of frost on the pumpkins. Picked all my tomatoes too though, just in case. Some rain would still be nice. Promises, promises. Today, as I type it is 77°F or 25°C. Back outside I go.
Brenda
Thunder Bay hit 70F on Sunday .. we sat on the patio looking at the empty beds .. only my petunias that were in Urn type planters weathered the frost .. AND .. unbelievably .. some Blue Salvia at the back of one of the beds ..
A contradiction in terms this Canadian weather .. predictions are for almost a FULL week of rain here .. altho .. when I go to the various weather sites online .. nothing shows up .. guess it's gonna be 'surprise rain' :-)
Everyone enjoy their week
~*M*~
Gorgeous day here today in Toronto, when I left home this morning for work (100 miles) is was sooo cold..really fall day...keep putting off deadheading and taking in plants for winter..I'll get an ugly surprise one of these morning though..they are calling for temps in the 20's all this week...most likely that will be the last of summer gardening..isn't it a sad time for us gardeners....
Always reminds me, and gives me the same sinking feeling as taking down the Xmas tree after the Xmas holidays .. you prepare and plan and enjoy and then .. POOF .. done deal. But we all have pics of the gardens and, as always, plans for NEXT spring .. I think that perhaps that's why I started 2 perennial gardens this year .. that way I get to watch for shoots etc long before heading out to the greenhouses to purchase annuals .. AND .. I MAY try 'winter sowing' this year .. perhaps Lavatera .. nothing ventured, nothing gained :-)
~*M*~