It's that time of year...when it still feels like summer, but it certainly doesn't look it. The leaves are changing colors or just plain falling to the ground. Walnuts litter the lawn, making it dangerous to walk for fear of twisting an ankle. Flowers are being pulled and tossed onto the compost pile. New perennials are put into the ground. And a few trucks loads full of well composted horse manure all around.
Most of the flower beds here are very compacted. The plants grow poorly and it isn't soil - you gardeners know what I mean. It's just plain dirt. My brother is lucky enough to know someone with horses who has a couple of piles of horse manure compost to get rid of, since he needs to make a couple new ones. I got 3 truck loads and it only made a dent in one of his piles. These have been sitting for approximately 2 years cooking and seem to be real nice black gold now.
3 truck loads was a lot and made a dent in my flower beds, but really, I could've used one more. I had enough for 8 flower beds, but I didn't get to finish one bed and I have some other beds away from the house that could have used some, but those beds "aren't as important", meaning, they aren't where I keep any prized plants. The plants I get that I don't love, maybe just like, or one's that I've accepted because someone is giving them away, but I don't really want them...just don't want them to get tossed. You know what I mean?
So, the "important" beds are done. Now I am waiting for the leaves to turn and drop. Then the next big chore, raking and running them through the chipper/shredder and putting them on the beds. If you have never used a chipper/shredder, let me tell you, it is a lot of fun. I will be sure to post some pictures of it in action.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Getting down to the nitty-gritty of fall
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6 comments:
Hi – this is an invitation to join the Garden Bloggers Retro carnival. I don’t know if you’ve ever come across the concept of a Blog carnival – if not I’ve explained it in detail on my site (Oct 1). But basically the idea is to revive one of your old posts which you think is worth rereading, or which you think new readers might enjoy. Send me the link to the post, and in November I’ll publish a series of posts describing and linking to all the posts people have nominated.
I hope you’ll join in and we have a fun carnival!
Sue
PS. I hope this isn’t the second time I’ve invited you - I’m losing track of who I have and haven’t yet contacted. If so, sorry.
Wow - lucky you, getting all that wonderful composted manure...your garden will love you for it!
Hi Angie from Ohio. I'm also Angie from Ohio and based on your buckeye post I think we even live very close - how odd. I was searching some things about Buckeyes and found your blog. I have almost 2000 this year for some craft projects and I'm having some mold trouble - working on drying them and preserving them. Ugh...
Anyway, your flowers and gardens are lovely! I'm crafty and love the trash to treasure stuff but don't have much of a green thumb. It was nice to stumble across you today. Have a beautiful fall! (when this yucky hot stuff finally breaks :)
Sue, thanks for the invite, it sounds like fun!
Angie from nearby-too funny! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll come back again!
Connie-yes, I feel very lucky...now I am ready for next year to start!
hi angie - i just discovered your blog the other day and I'm making my way through your old posts. very nice!
Hi Gina, thanks for stopping by!
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