Autumn Arrives, No Pumpkins for Pies!

Fall has officially arrived but without the grand display of 

color that typically blankets our area from the top

of the ridge to the winding county back roads.  

It seems that Summer never arrived, it only passed

through for a couple of weeks.  We went from drenching

rains with cool temperatures to blazing heat without

rain resulting in a poor gardening season.

It was my first year without squash bugs for a while.

The deer grazed on the lush greenery in the woods

but now that has changed.  Currently, my only good 

crop is the small patch of bush beans and a few

pole beans winding their was across a couple of cattle panels.

I saw three deer scoping it out last night, 

it won't be long before the beans are nibbled to the ground.

And I'll let them, it's slim pickins for them right now and

they are dealing with hunting season as well.

Now I don't mind some fine venison tacos or sloppy 

joes but a couple of these are young ones

so I hope they stick around.

The last of the golden rod.  Most of it has dried

and withered.  The bees enjoyed it while it was fresh.

I've tried leaving the hose running at the base of the viburnum

but still they just can't get enough water right now.

They are in raised beds, mostly filled with rock and a little dirt

that is in the retaining wall out front by the court yard.  

I don't know why I'm worried about them, their fragrant

flowers, abundant fragrant flowers I might add, smell

like rotting flesh, right next to the seating area.

I had no idea when I planted them. 

The bees are now choosing the marigolds which are doing well.

I planted them to help rid the small side garden of bugs

but they are doing better than anything else!

Even the potato tower was a bust.  

You can see a few little buds in the upper left corner.  

(Click the photo to enlarge)

Normally I can dig down and pull out what I need for dinner.

I still can if I want to eat giant worms!

Which I don't.

And the coleus is magnificent bedded down with the 

hostas which are protected from the mid day sun.

I am off work tomorrow, taking most of the remaining days

one day at a time other than a few together in October.

We had some restrictions during the time our company

split into two separate companies so a lot of the vacation days

were put on hold and now that we have half as many people

we really have to watch coverage since there are fewer

to take over if you are out.

Nothing big planned except running out to get cat food

and then I might spend some time in the girl cave since

I have seriously neglected sewing these last few months.