Puttering

I spent a morning this week just puttering in the garden. The day was still summer-like–in the 70s and sunny. The trees are just starting to change color. Later in the week, the autumn rain starts bringing cooler weather. Since I do not cut down plants growing in the garden beds until spring, my puttering involved emptying and storing pots.

I pulled out the four tomato plants that grow in self-watering pots on the deck and put them in the compost bin. I emptied the pots and cleaned them. That involved more than puttering but the pots will be ready for planting in the spring. I transplanted herbs from the herb terracotta pot into individual pots and brought them into the kitchen. I have oregano, thyme, and sage ready at my fingetips. I cut the rosemary down and froze the stocks.

I also transplanted geraniums that were growing in a terracotta pot and brought them to the second floor under skylights so they will get more light. Fingers crossed that these plants make it through the winter. Winters here are grey. We do not get many sunny days. I think it is the lack of bright sunshine that do my transplanted plants in. I suppose I could add a grow light. Something to think about.

I stored the hanging baskets. The shed is now full. The next warmish day I hope to organize the shed. It’s amazing what I’ve collected and stored there over the three years I’ve lived here. A good clean out is needed.

I planted an amaryllis bulb in a garden bed at the beginning of summer. It’s long green leaves were healthy and I’m hoping they were feeding the bulb. I pulled up the bulb, cut off the green leaves and stored the bulb in a paper bag in the refrigerator for eight weeks. I hope to have red blossoms this winter. I need to start feeding the Christmas cactus so we can get blooms again this year.

Six frogs are still hanging around our ten gallon submerged bucket. We won’t clean that out until the frogs have vacated. The hummingbirds are gone so I brought in and cleaned their feeders ready to put out in May.

I volunteer at a resale shop that funds the local food pantry. I’ve brought home some outdoor garden decor treasures that I am storing this winter to be put up next spring. I have a baker’s rack on the back deck. I want to fill it with plants in the spring. Maybe primroses. I have all winter to mull that over.

Turkey have been visiting the property more. Probably looking for the bird feeders that we brought to keep the black bears from making our property a feasting place. We have a family of six squirrels that live in poplar tree near the bird feeders. They provide entertainment for one of our golden retrievers. They are probably waiting for their free meals. Why can’t I simply feed the birds? That’s forest life for you.

This blog post turned into a puttering of words touching on this and that. It is that time of year here. I haven’t yet started on autumn projects. I’m trying to get the very last drop out of summer that I can. Hopefully the season will offer a few more days of puttering.