Garden Friday

 

 

 

It's Garden Friday

and we are hoping to thaw out from this week's low temperatures!

 With the Winter Solstice still looming,

we've had our share of chilly mornings around here.

Let's see how the garden fared.

 

 

Well, the clover that we use as a ground cover got frosted,

but as soon as the sun was out,

it bounced right back.

 

The beet greens got a bit icy,

but with the roots nestled cozily under ground,

the frost will simply make them sweeter.

 

That's what happened to the kale 

after its close encounter with the frigid conditions.

After sampling some yesterday while picking greens for my salad,

I couldn't believe how much sweeter it was!

 

Under the row covers, I checked to see how the carrots, leek,

lettuce and snap peas were managing.

Turns out, they were just fine and amazingly,

they continue to grow despite what the thermometer reads.

 

The Walla-Walla onions, which are uncovered,

are coming along nicely.

They don't seem to mind the icy temps at all.

We also have red cabbage and parsley growing in this bed.

 

The garlic just keeps on chuggin' along.

The drip irrigation has been disconnected over this last stretch of weather,

but we will monitor the temps and reconnect it when our lows

are back in the mid-to-high thirties.

There should be plenty of garlic for the coming year.

It will be harvested in May of 2021.

 

When working out in the yard this week,

I spied this gorgeous holly shrub,

just loaded with berries.

If that doesn't scream "the holidays",

what does?

I may have to snatch a few to decorate our mantel.

 

Unbelievably, the yarrow has actually had blossoms on it this week.

It doesn't seem fazed in the least by the chill factor.

 

We still have our sweet lil' (free) bush daisy,

 

as well as our salvia blooming.

These are some hearty flowering plants.

 

 

 Yesterday, I began pruning back a lot of dead material

in a couple of the beds.

This work will continue until things are tidied up.

There is still leaf mulching and wood chipping to do as well.

Autumn is a great time to get caught up 

on some foundational chores for the garden.

 

 

And speaking of tidying up,

this was one of three Gator loads of brush and debris

that was hauled off into the woods on one of my jobs.

There is enough left to keep me busy for a few weeks,

and I look forward to the task.

Wintertime can be sad for gardeners,

but it's also the time we need, to plan for future gardens,

stock up on seeds, and give our bodies a bit of rest.

 

As our temperatures have plummeted in recent days,

the chooks' water has been frozen solid when their coop is opened in the mornings.

A gallon-sized jar of warm water easily takes care of that.

Gandalf

 

They've also been getting some warm rice in the morning,

and extra food, which helps them maintain their body heat.

 I will be making a big batch of oatmeal for them,

so that it will be ready for their breakfast each day.

They give us so much,

it's the least we can do.