Arrived Friday afternoon.
- Picked green beans right after I arrived.
- Drove around the property several times with Bert. Sat on the porch swing together and rocked. Walked around the gardens together. Later we sat in the cub cadet in the cul de sac and watched the stars. The grey kitten that we have been seeing around (and fed a few times) jumped up into the cadet and let us pet him. Very affectionate.
- Got up very early on Saturday morning. Cool morning, fall is in the air. The leaves are starting to fall.
- Watered in the Rose Garden. Deadheaded the zinnias. Weeded. Raked up pine needles and mulched several rose beds.
- Planted a Martha's Vineyard Rose in the Long Border. I went home to pick up the cat to bring her with me to the farm, and I had her in the carrier when I stopped at Arbor Gate to buy a rose. I was buying a rose to replace my dead Duchess de Brabant. I was in a hurry because the cat was in the hot car, so I chose Martha's Vineyard because the sign read that it was an Arbor Gate favorite. I wanted another Duchess because she makes such pretty flowers, and her spring flush is stunning. Alas, they didn't have it, so I came away with Martha. When I got to the farm I googled Martha's growth habit, and she is too small for that spot. Three by three is her size. So I planted her in the Long Border. The ground is incredibly dry about a foot down where I was digging the hole for this rose. Of course I filled the hole with water - twice - before I planted her, but it is dry! It hasn't rained for several months.
- Watered in the Star Garden, the small hydrangea I planted from Amy's baby shower, my Climbing American Beauty Rose, my Climbing Pinkie, my gingers, all my new iris plantings, and the bed with the small Althea that Debra gave me.
- Dug up my dead Duchess de Brabant rose which is no small feat since it was about 7 years old.
- Cut back the Pringle Aster, it's finished blooming. Dumped the cuttings in the compost pile.
- Drove to the Antique Rose Emporium and bought a Duchess de Brabant to replace my dead one.
- Planted my Duchess in the same spot as the dead one. Dry, dry soil. I filled the hole up with water before I put her in the ground.
- Turned over two beds in the Vegetable Garden - the 2 x 16 and one of the 4 x 8s. I'm experimenting this winter with Elbon Rye grass. I ordered 10 pounds of seed. It is supposed to be good for getting rid of nematodes. They get trapped in the roots apparently. Then about a month before planting time in the spring you turn the grass under as a green manure. I seeded the two beds I turned over. I will do the rest of the beds tomorrow. I'm pretty excited to see if it's effective. The one disappointing thing about it is that I can't grow any winter vegetables. But if it works maybe I'll get some of the plant vigor back.
- Bert and I got up about midnight, got the spotlight and the gun, and went hunting for armadillos. Didn't see one, unfortunately.
- Up with the sun Sunday morning. Coffee on the front porch listening to the birds.
- Worked in the Vegetable Garden. Raked fungus - disgusting. Turned the soil over in four more beds. Spread Elbon Rye grass seed. Pulled weeds. I pulled up all my green beans and zinnias and transplanted the Ox Eye dausies that were growing in there so I could seed the space with rye grass seed - it's a scorched earth project. The only thing I allowed to stay were the Tabasco pepper plants (because they are so pretty), the Torch Mexican sunflower plants, and the marigolds. I even cut down all the asparagus fronds.
- Walked around in the Rose Garden and drank a mimosa. Looks pretty in there.
- Worked for the rest of the morning in the Vegetable Garden cleaning up and seeding the rest of the beds with the rye grass. Looks good in there!
- Spent some time in the Orchard deadheading zinnias, cutting back blackberry vines that were growing in the paths, and pulling weeds.
- Napped in the afternoon.
- Worked for a little while in the Star Garden cleaning up after the armadillos.
- Left around 5 for home.
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