Here are some permanent sunflowers at Meeks Park.  They always look great:  spring, summer, fall, and winter.  

 

They always make me smile.  Thought you would like a little smile today too.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

This is what we saw yesterday while we were having lunch on the porch.  Gorgeous fall color in the mountains.

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

 

Here is an update on Mark and Renee's view from the top of Stonebriar.  The trees in the middle ground are showing more and more color.

 

We love this view of the mountains.  Almost as much as ours.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

The maple trees on Clifford's hill are so pretty right now.  Having this to distract us actually makes the trudge up the hill a little easier.

 

I hope your world is beautiful too, now that fall is here.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

This is what our road looked like yesterday when we started out on our walk.  So pretty!!!

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

You know how leeks are white at the bottom, and green at the top?  Well, the way that happens in the garden is by a process called "blanching."  You do this by piling up the soil around the base of the leeks, or use a deep layer of mulch to cover the base so the sun doesn't hit the parts you want to stay white.

 

I read last week about another way to blanch leeks.  See the new method?  I'm giving it a try.  I'll let you know how it works out.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

The Gingko trees at the Methodist church in Blairsville are changing color right now.  There are three big trees in the flower bed outside the MAC (the activity center next to the church,) and they are about 25 feet tall.  I love to stand under them and look up into the blue sky.  

 

I'm telling you, if you live within 20 miles of Blairsville, it is worth the trip to go see these trees.  But do it this week, because without warning, they are gorgeous one day and drop their leaves the next.  Then all you get to see is puddles of golden leaves on the ground.  They are much prettier looking up.

 

I have some very fond memories of Ginkgo trees  in Norfolk.  There are two huge ones in front of Northside Junior High School, and several in the median strip on Granby Street near the cemetery, and some big, beautiful ones inside the cemetery.  Oh yeah, and Bolling Ave is lined with Gingko trees.  Both sides of the street!!  What a glorious sight that is in the fall.  

 

I hope you get to see some Gingko trees in your travels.  Just look for brilliant gold leaves against the sky.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

 

 

I think I can honestly claim the title "Arugula Queen of Crabapple Lane."  I can grow Arugula anywhere!!!

 

I plant seeds three times a year in this bed, and sometimes I let it go to seed.  Well, I guess I got a little rambunctious this time, seeding the bed.  Or I may have just been sloppy and dropped a few seeds.  Either way, you can see that our Arugula seeds are viable and healthy.

 

We love Arugula and eat it just about every day.  Sometimes raw in salads, sometimes cooked like spinach.  It is really good on a pizza.  

 

And this whole bed of Arugula is as pretty as some people's flower gardens, with an extra benefit:  it's edible!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

It wasn't a frost, but it's always better to be safe than sorry.  

 

Monday afternoon we harvested all the tomatoes and peppers, because we were expecting freezing temperatures overnight.  We woke up to 30 degrees on Tuesday, and were glad we brought in everything we wanted to keep.  

 

So Tuesday, we spent a little part of the day roasting, slicing, freezing, and stashing our pepper harvest.  

 

The good news is this:  the arugula didn't mind the cold a bit, and neither did the cabbages, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kale.  We'll see how much cold they can take, but for now they are happy in the garden.  So am I.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

You know the seeds that bakers put on rye bread?  This is what Carraway looks like in its first year.  This one is about a foot tall, and 18 inches across.  It looks a little like a spiky parsley plant.  Like parsley, Carraway is a biennial, meaning that it takes two years to go from seed to making its own seeds.  

 

This is my first time growing Carraway, so I am hoping that it survives our winter, and goes to flower and makes seeds next spring or summer.  

 

I'll let you know if we are successful.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!