Scavenger hunt
Leaves are falling, winds are blowing and the air is finally beginning to cool off. I am delighted!Fall has arrived in all her glory with vivid oranges, reds and yellow popping up in our yards, forests and byways. Pumpkins and corn shocks adorn many pathways and front doors as time marches on.
I have been busy as a bee (still) taking care of those last-minute chores that never seem to get finished. I really think I need a spreadsheet to work this out, but I lack the time it takes to come inside, sit at the computer and work on one. I would much rather be outdoors feeling the breeze on my face watching the leaves as they slowly float to the earth.
That brings us around to ‘The List’.
Don’t forget to winterize your watering system by unhooking and rolling up your garden hoses, checking outdoor water faucets for leaks or cracks, and emptying pails and buckets. Remove any stakes or trellising that may blow over in those cold winds and turnover your compost pile so it will break down for Spring use. Plant any Spring blooming bulbs now, and add a generous handful of bonemeal in the hole. Fill it in with soil and add a few inches of mulch over the top to keep it from heaving up during the Winter. Dig any Summer flowering bulbs, tubers or corms from dahlias, caladiums, cannas and gladioluses and store them in a cool (not freezing), dry location.
I always wait for the ‘killing frost’ before I dig my dahlias. Thus, triggering them to go into dormancy and survive my storage method.
It’s not too late to plant evergreens, shrubs and trees giving them an ample supply of water as you do, and weekly if we don’t have rain until the ground freezes. Instead of raking leaves we use a mulching attachment on the mower that puts chopped up leaves back on the ground. They will decompose and breakdown during Winter and help to enrich your lawn. If you do not have one of these attachments, you may need to get out your trusty rake and move them around a bit.
I am still gathering herbs to dry and share as Christmas presents. I have an old wooden drying rack that I spread them out on since I will be burning a fire and cannot use the mantle for drying. Once they are dry to the touch, I put them in a 200-degree oven on cookie sheets for a few minutes to make sure they are completely dry. Using a large bowl I then remove the leaves throwing away the stems and store them in small, glass jars. It’s important to make sure they are dry before storing. If not, they may mold in the jars and not be safe to use. Today, I am harvesting sage, oregano, dill and parsley. I had lovely parsley earlier this summer and just when I was getting ready to harvest some,
I spotted several Swallowtail caterpillars having a feast. I immediately withdrew and photographed them instead. They were trying to eat as fast as they could before crawling onto a sturdier support to make their chrysalis on. In doing this it has prompted me to remind you that there are many other insects that use garden debris such as old leaves, stems, wood piles, tree bark, etc. for their winter homes. Look around your yard and gardens to see if you can locate some of them.
Just the other day I was tidying up a flower bed under a common buttonbush (cephalanthus occidentalis) and spotted three silkworm moth cocoons (promethea silkmoth) hanging almost side-by-side. I was amazed for several reasons. One, that they were even there and two, because I saw them!
Hence the title, scavenger hunt.
One more tidbit of information. Raking leaves now can reduce the number of fireflies next summer, and a thanks to Sue of the wonderful Woodford County Master Gardeners group, for that tidbit. Just rake them off your garden paths and walkways and leave the rest for the bugs.
Happy Fall