Remember all those chestnuts we collected back in October?  Pocketfuls, or is that pockets full?  Anyway, we collected a bunch.  We know from experience that you need to freeze them, because somehow when the flowers are being pollinated, insect eggs are laid inside the flowers.  Then when the seeds (the chestnuts) are formed, the eggs are inside them.  If you don't freeze them the larvae hatch inside the chestnut and then drill a hole in the shell to come out.

 

You don't even want to know how I know this.  But I do, and I'm telling you to freeze them when you collect them, to save yourself a lot of extra work.

 

OK, after all THAT:  Years ago Linda gave me a cool tool that exes the top of the chestnuts, cutting into the shell so they don't explode in the microwave.  So I cooked a few and they are delicious.  Now we are going to add them and to our Thanksgiving stuffing:  chestnut stuffing.  

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

 

I love this holly tree.  And right now it is loaded with these gorgeous red berries.  

 

Seek identified it as American holly, Ilex opaca.  But I think it's something else.  Hang on, let me go look it up.  

 

I'm back.  Yes it is a holly, but not an American holly.  It is Dahoon holly, Ilex cassine.  American holly has more shapely leaves;  you know, with more points like those in Christmas decorations.  

 

This Dahoon holly is fantastic.  The leaves aren't so pointy, making it easier to get close to it, and the berries start out yellow and ripen to red.  Just look at them all!!!

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

This is the "resting rock" almost at the top of the community.  It is a huge, beautiful hunk of granite that probably weighs a thousand pounds.  Since our latest rainstorm, it has greened up.  The moss lives on it all the time, but it gets really green after a little rain.  And can you see all that pink in the stone?  

 

Anyway, this rock sits there waiting for us to come along and rest on it.  We love it.

 

 

HAPPY HIKING!!!

 

How about this for hanging onto fall color?  This is Nandina domestica.  'Fire Power' is the cultivar name.  

 

These bushes are only about 24 inches tall and 18 inches across.  I love this planting, where the bushes were planted close  together forming a little mound.  And the best news on Nandina:  They are deer resistant!!!

 

What a nice plant to put in your front flower bed:  it has beautiful fall color, it doesn't get too big, and the deer leave it alone.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

On our walk yesterday, I couldn't help noticing that most of the leaves have fallen, and aren't they beautiful!!!  But it is starting to look a bit wintry.  The good news is:  even though it looks wintry, the temperatures for the next week are still up in the 60's.  

 

So, we get to enjoy the look of fall into 'winter without the cold temps yet.  

 

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

I can hardly believe this myself, but we still have arugula.  Even after 20 degrees one morning.  What a great plant.  You think it has antifreeze in its veins?  

 

Whatever... I am going to keep enjoying it for as long as I can.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I just love seeing this string of dogwoods in the fall.  Lee planted 12 of these pink dogwoods about 20 years ago, and every year they are fabulous.  They are beautiful when they bloom in May, and gorgeous now in November. 

 

I am so glad he planted them;  glad that we all get to enjoy them.  

 

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

 

 

On my walk, I also saw the Bittersweet showing its beautiful red and yellow berries.  

 

Don't you just love the colors of Fall?  Me too!!!

 

 

HAPPY FALL, Y'ALL!!!

 

This was our road earlier this week.  I went for a walk and this sight really tickled me.

 

I know that some people like to blow the leaves off their lawns and the road;  and we like to rake them and put them in wire bins to add to our compost pile.  But I really love seeing the roads and yards covered with leaves, especially when they are still showing a little fall color.

 

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

 

 

Today is the official "frost date" for our hardiness zone:  November 15th.  

 

I didn't get any pictures for you, but on Monday and Tuesday of this week we had SNOW!!!  Not much, but the temperature got down into the 20's, and on Tuesday the high temp was 25!!!  EEK!!

 

It's back up in the 40's now, which is WAY better, but the frost has already taken out most of the garden plants.  I am hoping the Swiss chard and Arugula will perk up, but I'm not holding my breath.  

 

It has been a great Summer and Fall, and that makes me happy.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!