Spent the last couple of days outside in the now-unseasonably-warm weather, bringing the plants in that cannot survive the late Fall chill.
The trees have dulled to their yellows and muted browns. The largest in the middle of the Commons (after last evening's winds) completely denuded. Bare branches scraping a crisp blue sky.
So here I am.
Another Winter quickly approaching and dirt 'neath my nails and muddy knee'd jeans as I prune the roses back and dig the yellow daylilies and divide the purple flag irises whose roots gnarl above the surface of the soil like so many bunions and corns on an old man.
The Curly-Spider trimmed and a decision made. Earlier, I had left the potted babies and the original plant out in a moment of gardening triage to succumb to the elements...but the Patron St. of Plants in me couldn't do it. So they are bundled up with the rest to over-winter in my bathroom with a sprawling
Philodendron until Spring. Face it...I could set your Grandma on an ice floe to drift...but I can't watch a perfectly healthy green plant wither and die without interceding.
That is a little messed up. I know.
Cleaning and stacking the clay-pots and hand tools. Repotting that which needs repotted. Soon to strip the remains of the Morning Glories and stow the trellis until next year. The herbs are dried and seeds gathered and set back for next season. Tucked my Daffodil bulbs in for Spring!
A happy moment when I checked the sprig of Basil I had snipped and saved in a wine glass with water to see if it would root. It was positively bristling with new roots and the beginnings of tiny leaves. I filled a small clay pot with some of this year's black compost, and now have it sitting on my stove to grow and provide fresh basil for Caprese and Bruchetta throughout the snowy months. So glad this worked!
Saved some of my miniature rose cuttings to potato root this winter and propagate.
Repurposed the very bottom curve of the Halloween pumpkin and filled it with black oily sunflower seeds...although it quickly became apparent that this was much more of a treat for the local squirrels than it was the Jays and Cardinals (as evidenced by the gnawed areas of the pumpkin shell iself) .
The Compost Bin is in its third year now and doing well. I can't believe it took me over 50 years to discover this gardening gem. In goes peelings, scraps, twigs, newspaper, cardboard, pumpkin carvings, trimmings from all the plants...oh...and a handful of red worms. Out comes some of the richest black soil you've ever seen. Going to top dress the border before mulching and start layering the new box for next year. So nice to have an ample supply of rich compost at hand...and a nice way to reuse scrap as well. And never a bad smell...just rich loamy soil!
Discovered (by a tip from Marti...an Oregon friend) that baking apples, pears, pumpkins and peaches for Butters works so so well. Just finished a large batch of Baked Peach Butter...some of which is making its way into
"Idgy's Fall Box"
It is that time again.
Good THINGS always come in boxes!
This year my Fall Box (for her) will include Handmade Butterscotch Balls dipped in Milk Chocolate...Baked Peach Butter...Daffodil Bulbs, Shared Yellow Day Lily Roots for Fall Planting, Shared Iris Divisions, Loose Ginger-Peach Tea and both a porcelain Infuser Mug, and a heart-shaped infuser tea spoon (got one for each of us from eBay)...and whatever else fits in before Monday's post. May even tuck in a couple of these Curly Spider Plant Babies. (...if you are reading this you have been warned...)
She is ready to mail mine, as well!
Yes...good things always come in boxes.
Yesterday's local elections went well and next year if we "Dispence with Pence" in Indiana...perhaps we can get some things accomplished now that Joe Hogsett is the Mayor of Indianapolis!
Doty is now our new mayor (in Greencastle), as well.
I foresee good things ahead!
Spiced Potato Wedges
I use red potatoes for this.
2 medium potatoes per serving.
1 tablespoon of butter melted
paprika
salt
Cut the potatoes lengthwise in half. Then cut each half into two wedges.
Mix with melted butter until evenly coated...then spread in a flat baking pan cut edges up in a single layer.
Sprinkle with paprika and salt lightly.
Bake at 305 until fork tender and slightly browned.
Great to dip in ketchup or cheese.
Enjoy!
More anon...
