Friday, October 30, 2009

More Halloween











Halloween




I grew some pumpkins this year, and brought some to my daughter's pumpkin carving party. They were pretty on the vine, but really cool after they were carved.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

The October Garden


Many of the flowers, vegetables, and herbs are gone, but not all. It still looks attractive out there, the stone gives it a shape even in winter. I'm trying a shortcut this year, using the dead leaves to create compost right where I want it, in this case the new pumpking patch, and the ongoing side yard/stone wall project. This will save me a lot of hauling. My neighbor dumps his leaves for me, then I'll add the usual vegetable peelings, old fruit, the soil from my many containers. It is all right out in the open, no composting bins. This way, they'll get wet and be easy to turn. By spring planting, it will be nice rich soil.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Autumn


The first frost will be here any time now, so I am enjoying the last of the annuals. For the first time in years, I am not clearing more garden space. My whole front lawn has now been turned into a garden, a few feet at a time.

The best time to prepare the lawn for the transition to garden is fall. I spray vinegar on the area set aside for change. This is most effective on a warm, sunny day. After a couple of hours in the sun, the vinegar starts killing the grass, with out harming anything else. Then I cover it with news paper, about 6 sheets deep. Next, dead leaves chopped up by a lawn mower, or leaf mulcher. After that, what you do depends on your plans for this particular patch. At my place, some areas are for plants, some are mulched, some have slate walks or patios.