Tuesday, 18 October 2016
I had suggested to Allan that putting double stick tape on his desk might keep Skooter off of it. Skooter started to eat the tape when it stuck to his face. Next, I suggested that cats don’t like foil.
Skooter sleeping on foil (Allan’s photo)
I don’t do much fall clean up in my own garden because I ascribe to the Ann Lovejoy school of thought of leaving most of the clean up for late winter and early spring. I will clip bit by bit over the winter to reveal views and make space for the crocuses and snow drops to show.
That’s not what our clients like and understand, though. We tidy up public gardens well because most passersby won’t feel comfortable with the wild and tangly brown and tan winter look. We occupied ourselves with some fall clean up today as we wait for the rest of the bulbs to arrive later this week.
Nursery errands
On the way north, we picked up some bags of bulb food at The Planter Box. Teresa told us that the greenhouse covers had held up well to the storm until one big gust suddenly ripped the plastic off two big greenhouses.
photo by The Planter Box
bulb food. We are ready. (Allan’s photo)
Corn stalks for decorating.
gnarly pumpkins
Next, we drove over to Sandridge Road to pick up just six violas from the Basket Case Greenhouse.
Darrell, one of the new Basket Case owners (Allan’s photo)
They still have loads of chrysanthemums at a very good price. I think their official autumn hours are on Thursday through Sunday.
They did not get that gust of bad greenhouse-ripping wind.
Basket Case photo
We drove up Sandridge Road and across Joe Johns. When I saw a strikingly colourful house, we simply had to go around the block….which meant about a mile around…to get a photo of it.
eye catching colour
telephoto
Allan pointed out that the license plate sign reads “Gro-Damit Nursery”!
I am intrigued.
(I asked on Facebook and learned this really is a nursery so will have to check it out next spring.)
Marilyn’s garden
The only client’s garden we have regularly left almost wild all winter was Marilyn’s. I am sure the deer have appreciated plenty of soft, secret places to sleep. This year, we are doing more clipping than usual because new owners are taking possession soon. Just in case they are not gardeners, and in case they don’t clip anything back in later winter, I want them to be able see their nice collection of narcissi next spring. It feels strange that we won’t be planting more narcissi here this fall.
looking southwest from the street
An old dead tree had come down in the storm, not very big. I had grown akebia on it so there was quite a tangle. I sicced Allan on it.
before (Allan’s photos)
after; the akebia can smother the salmonberry on the property line.
looking south into autumn sunshine
Allan’s photo
looking north
looking west from the back porch
I hope the new folks will know that all those plants can be cut down in spring.
The neighbour’s sweet tabby likes the garden (of course) Allan’s photo
I think there might be one more visit, but this could have been our last trip to Marilyn’s…depending on when the sale closes. Because I did not know, I did not get all verklempt about it.
Klipsan Beach Cottages
Allan cutting down the towering Thalictrum ‘Elin’. We want the stems for Halloween decorations.
autumn red blueberry leaves and Agapanthus seed heads
Thalictrum gone
backlit clematis
cutting floppy Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
That sedum had been in heavy shade cast by the bay tree and roses that got cut back last week.
Allan tackled the Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ that was behind the garden bench.
before (Allan’s photos)
during
after
Garden writer Christopher Lloyd would have appreciated Allan’s technique. I recall reading of Christo criticizing a gardener who left sharp stem stubs that would stab a person’s fingers when buried in next year’s new growth.
On the other hand, it is supposed to be good for a certain kind of beneficial bee to leave hollow stem stubs for nesting places.
after more clipping
birdbath view
sign of all the rain we had: sandbags by the basement entrance
KBC helper Luis was burning the last of the pile of debris.
The Anchorage Cottages
When I looked at the weather forecast of rain tomorrow, I became anxious to get some of the fall clean up done at Jo’s. It must be done by the end of this month. So we did not stay long at The Anchorage.
center courtyard
A new deck in progress made me feel ok to leave the garden not quite perfect.
in the office courtyard
bee on a tattered dahlia (Allan’s photo)
Jo’s garden
We had two hours left to spend at Jo’s and we got a good start on the most severe fall clean up that we do anywhere. Jo likes the garden cut completely to the ground and wants this done for the new owners. I wondered if maybe they, like me, prefer more plants left standing in winter. They can have their way next year.
looking in the gate.
entry garden, still not as clipped as I would do for Jo herself.
Shasta daisies before (Allan’s photo)
and after
northwest bed. Jo would like this. I could not bear to pull the blooming impatiens.
west bed before (Allan’s photo)
and after today’s efforts
Allan got partway down the west side, clipping daisies and asters and helianthus back hard.
We will be back; we did not get the center courtyard done.
I hope the new owners know that the plants are still in there and did not get taken away! I swear all I took was a small start of the clumping purple aster.
Long Beach and Ilwaco
planting the violas in the Stormin’ Norman planter (the one we recently did over by removing scads of wire vine). We chose violas of dark red and blue, the Stormin’ Norman colors.
that planter one month ago
We cleaned up the planters at Ilwaco city hall and hope to do more Ilwaco clean up later this week (and also hope to get Jo’s done before Bulb Time begins).
pulling tatty nasturtiums and cosmos at Ilwaco City Hall
Someone had made an autumnal potted flower display.
Tomorrow calls for rain and wind. I hope it is another wrong weather forecast so that we can get back to Jo’s.
I am so excited that tonight we have a DVD of an adaptation of the Blandings books by PG Wodehouse. I love the Blandings books even more than Jeeves and Wooster.
(Update: It’s not nearly as good as the Jeeves and Wooster show with Fry and Laurie.)
Wednesday, 19 October 2016
Skooter has taken over Allan’s computer desk. A pile of boxes barricades him from going behind the monitor.
equal time for Frosty
Even though rain was predicted, we went back to finish Jo’s fall clean up so that it will be done before tomorrow, when bulb sorting time begins.
Just down the street, work is being done on the old historic fire station building.
On the way, we saw county commissioner candidate Fred Hill putting up a campaign sign. We circled the block to see if he had smaller signs for people’s yards.
Allan’s photo
I did score a sign and we spoke of two issues that cemented my vote for him.
On Allan and I went to Jo’s to finish what we began yesterday.
Jo’s garden
Allan’s photos:
before
after
I hope the new owners don’t come in and say “Hey, someone took all our plants.” The plants are still there and will return in spring.
west garden bed today
About to leave. It rained on us the whole time.
I have much more to say about this last time at Jo’s. That will be tomorrow’s post.
Ilwaco
We picked up chicken salad sandwiches at Roots Java, Juice and Salad Bar
at Roots
Melissa, Roots owner
progress at the old fire station
Like us, these fellows had been working in the rain.
At home, I put up our new political sign.
I gathered up plastic milk crates from the greenhouse so they can dry in the garage to receive sorted bulbs.
The patio is still a post-storm obstacle course.
Roots chicken salad on flatbread (you can also get it on a croissant)
Tomorrow: a farewell to Jo’s garden.
1995 (age 71):
Oct 18: Got my flu shot today. Frost nipped the squash plants back by the apple tree. I didn’t see any other frost damage.
Oct 19: Spent 3+ hours in strawberry patch. Made a new row of daughter plants. Cleaned up the rows, trimming the plants and moving small plants into the rows.
1997 (age 73):
Oct 18: I tried to put up the gadget to use to lower the baskets (in the house) but I don’t understand the directions so I’ll have to wait for Robert. [Robert, my spouse at the time, and I were about to arrive for our yearly 4 day visit to help out with all sorts of chores and cleaning.]
1998 (age 74):
Oct 19: What a waste. A beautiful sunny warm day and I spent the day (again) peeling apples and tomatoes—3 dehydrator trays each plus some more applesauce. It was cold during the night so I’ll put another blanket on the bed. I pulled some apples down from the tree using my new rock rake.
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1995 (age 71):
Tangly Cottage Gardening 